Science is not a system of certain, or -established…
“Science is not a system of certain, or -established, statements; nor is it a system which steadily advances towards a state of finality... And our guesses are guided by the unscientific, the metaphysical (though biologically explicable) faith in laws, in regularities which we can uncover-discover. Like Bacon, we might describe our own contemporary science-'the method of reasoning which men now ordinarily apply to nature'-as consisting of 'anticipations, rash and premature' and as 'prejudices'.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Science progresses through conjecture and refutation, not through absolute certainty; its methods are provisional and shaped by underlying metaphysical assumptions.
In simple terms: Science is provisional and guided by assumptions.
Key Takeaway
Science is a tentative, self‑correcting process.
Themes
Epistemology
Methodology
Philosophy of Science
Uncertainty
Metaphysics
Mood
Reflective
Critical
Type
Philosophical
Analytical
When to use this quote
- Designing research programs
- Evaluating scientific claims
- Teaching philosophy of science
Key Concepts
Conjecture
Refutation
Fallibilism
Heuristics
Practical Applications
- Developing robust experimental designs
- Encouraging critical peer review
Questions to Reflect On
- How does acknowledging uncertainty improve scientific practice?
- What role do underlying metaphysical beliefs play in shaping research agendas?