A theory has only the alternative of being right or wrong…
“A theory has only the alternative of being right or wrong. A model has a third possibility: it may be right, but irrelevant.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Theories are binary; models add a third dimension: relevance beyond correctness.
In simple terms: Models must be relevant.
Assess model relevance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy analysis
- technology development
Key Concepts
Practical Applications
- Correctness alone isn’t enough.
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a model useful despite errors?
How do you measure relevance?