It is universally appreciated, I think, that theorists are…
“It is universally appreciated, I think, that theorists are able to tweak their assumptions in order to reach any conclusion they wish. The believability of the conclusion depends not only on the fact that it was reached but on how hard the theorist had to tweak the model to get there.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Theorists can adjust assumptions to reach desired conclusions; credibility depends on how much they must tweak.
In simple terms: Tweaking assumptions affects credibility.
Key Takeaway
Be transparent about assumptions.
Themes
Science
Critical thinking
Integrity
Methodology
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Research design
- Peer review
- Academic writing
Key Concepts
Assumption testing
Model robustness
Philosophy of science
Questions to Reflect On
- How to assess model validity?
- When is adjustment unethical?
A Different Perspective
Over‑tuning may mislead.