The fact that the regions of nature actually covered by…
“The fact that the regions of nature actually covered by known laws are few and fragmentary is concealed by the natural tendency to crowd our experience into those particular regions and to leave the others to themselves. We seek out those parts that are known and familiar and avoid those that are unknown and unfamiliar. This is simply what is called 'Applied Science.'”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
We focus on familiar, law‑governed parts of nature while ignoring vast unknown areas, a bias that defines applied science.
In simple terms: We study what we know and ignore what we don’t.
Key Takeaway
Expand curiosity beyond familiar domains.
Themes
knowledge bias
exploration
science philosophy
epistemology
human nature
Mood
reflective
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research planning
- education curricula
- policy making
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
scientific methodology
uncertainty
Questions to Reflect On
- What unknown areas could transform science if explored?
- How can we balance safety with curiosity?
A Different Perspective
Our comfort with the known can limit breakthroughs in unknown realms.