Final answer:
Hypotheses in empirical science must be testable and falsifiable, capable of being supported or refuted through experimentation or observation. Untestable hypotheses, such as subjective statements, do not constitute empirical science. A scientific hypothesis can be supported by evidence, but not definitively proven.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypotheses are not statements that cannot be investigated in empirical science; rather, they are testable and falsifiable propositions about the natural world.
A hypothesis becomes a part of empirical science when it can be supported or refuted through experimentation or observation.
For instance, consider the hypothesis "The structure of any part of the broccoli is similar to the whole structure of the broccoli."
This hypothesis is not easily testable because it is too vague and lacks specificity; hence, it would not be considered a strong scientific hypothesis.
In contrast, a hypothesis such as "A candidate's ethnicity influences the likelihood that they will be elected" can be empirically tested by analyzing election results.
Scientific hypotheses must be capable of being disproven by experimental results, and while they can be supported by evidence, they are never definitively proven, in contrast to mathematical proofs.
Regarding untestable hypotheses, examples would include statements that rely on subjective experiences or those that cannot be measured empirically, such as "Botticelli's Birth of Venus is beautiful."
Likewise, a hypothesis must be more than just a guess; it should be based on existing knowledge and should be formulated in a way that allows for it to be either supported or contradicted by the evidence.