The more experiences and experiments accumulate in the…
“The more experiences and experiments accumulate in the exploration of nature, the more precarious the theories become. But it is not always good to discard them immediately on this account. For every hypothesis which once was sound was useful for thinking of previous phenomena in the proper interrelations and for keeping them in context. We ought to set down contradictory experiences separately, until enough have accumulated to make building a new structure worthwhile.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Accumulating experimental data makes theories less stable, yet discarding them hastily loses valuable context; contradictory evidence should be recorded until a new framework emerges.
In simple terms: More data destabilizes theories, but keep contradictions for future insight.
Key Takeaway
Preserve conflicting data for later synthesis.
Themes
science
methodology
theory development
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Laboratory research
- theoretical physics
- historical analysis
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
epistemology
incremental knowledge
paradigm shift
Questions to Reflect On
- When should contradictory evidence be discarded?
- How to balance stability and innovation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on data can paralyze progress.