Beyond Falsification: Cognitive Boundary Constraints as Precision Criteria for Scientific Theory Evaluation

This is a preprint of the manuscript: "Beyond Falsification: Cognitive Boundary Constraints as Precision Criteria for Scientific Theory Evaluation" Abstract:Karl Popper's falsificationism correctly identifies a necessary condition for scientific theorizing — empirical vulnerability. However, this paper argues that falsifiability alone is insufficient as a complete evaluative framework. It conflates temporal unfalsifiability with principled unfalsifiability. We propose the Three Axioms of Cognitive Boundary, which form a strict serial filter. This framework distinguishes theories inside the current cognitive boundary from those outside it, while intercepting pseudo-scientific claims at earlier gates. The manuscript has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and is currently under review. Keywords: falsificationism, cognitive boundary, serial filter, temporal unfalsifiability, survivorship bias, epistemic injustice, demarcation problem