ABSTRACT
The method of multiple hypotheses consists of three steps that must be taken to justify tentatively accepting hypothesis X about nature. First, the researcher must diligently identify plausible alternative hypotheses to hypothesis X. Second, the researcher must diligently obtain evidence relevant to both hypothesis X and to the plausible alternatives to hypothesis X. Finally, the researcher is justified in tentatively accepting hypothesis X if the obtained evidence is in good agreement with hypothesis X and not nearly in as good agreement with any of the alternatives to hypothesis X. In this way, hypothesis X is placed in survival-of-the-fittest competition with alternative hypotheses. If a hypothesis is to be accepted, even though only tentatively, it must be the clear winner in an explicit competition among alternative hypotheses.
