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A good theoretical account must explain all of the…

“A good theoretical account must explain all of the evidence that we see. If it doesn't work everywhere, we have no idea what we are talking about, and all is chaos.” quote by Angus Deaton
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“A good theoretical account must explain all of the evidence that we see. If it doesn't work everywhere, we have no idea what we are talking about, and all is chaos.”

Angus Deaton

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A theory must account for every observed fact; missing any data means the theory is incomplete and leads to disorder.

In simple terms: A theory must explain all evidence.

Key Takeaway

Ensure comprehensive evidence coverage.

Themes

science theory evidence methodology

Mood

analytical critical

Type

academic methodological

When to use this quote

  • research design
  • policy analysis
  • academic publishing
  • data collection

Key Concepts

epistemology falsifiability coherence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we test a theory against all data?
  • What risks arise from selective evidence?
A Different Perspective

If evidence is ignored, conclusions may be biased.

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