It is impossible to devise an experiment without a…
“It is impossible to devise an experiment without a preconceived idea; devising an experiment, we said, is putting a question; we never conceive a question without an idea which invites an answer. I consider it, therefore, an absolute principle that experiments must always be devised in view of a preconceived idea, no matter if the idea be not very clear nor very well defined.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Experiments are guided by prior ideas; questions arise from concepts that anticipate answers, shaping the research direction.
In simple terms: Ideas shape experiments and questions.
Key Takeaway
Start with a clear hypothesis.
Themes
science
methodology
philosophy
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
theoretical
instructional
When to use this quote
- lab research
- product development
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
hypothesis
experiment design
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you refine vague ideas before testing?
- What role does intuition play in scientific inquiry?
A Different Perspective
If the initial idea is vague, experiments may be misdirected.