I think that we shall have to get accustomed to the idea…
“I think that we shall have to get accustomed to the idea that we must not look upon science as a 'body of knowledge,' but rather as a system of hypotheses; that is to say, as a system of guesses or anticipations which in principle cannot be justified, but with which we work as long as they stand up to tests, and of which we are never justified in saying that we know they are 'true' or 'more or less certain' or even 'probable.'”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Science should be seen as a system of testable guesses, not absolute truth, always open to revision.
In simple terms: Science is a system of testable guesses.
Key Takeaway
Treat knowledge as provisional hypotheses.
Themes
philosophy
science
epistemology
uncertainty
methodology
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inspirational
Type
philosophical
educational
reflective
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic debate
- policy making
- education
- technology development
Key Concepts
falsifiability
critical rationalism
theory testing
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle contradictory evidence?
- What role does doubt play in innovation?
A Different Perspective
Rigid certainty can hinder progress and adaptability.