Although to penetrate into the intimate mysteries of…
“Although to penetrate into the intimate mysteries of nature and thence to learn the true causes of phenomena is not allowed to us, nevertheless it can happen that a certain fictive hypothesis may suffice for explaining many phenomena.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Scientific progress often relies on provisional models that explain observations, even if underlying truths remain hidden.
In simple terms: We use useful hypotheses when true causes are unknown.
Accept useful models while seeking deeper truth.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- policy making
- technology development
- public communication
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What provisional model guides your work?
- How do you test its limits?
Models may mislead if taken as final truth.