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The rules of scientific investigation always require us…

“The rules of scientific investigation always require us, when we enter the domains of conjecture, to adopt that hypothesis by which the greatest number of known facts and phenomena may be reconciled.” quote by Matthew Fontaine Maury
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“The rules of scientific investigation always require us, when we enter the domains of conjecture, to adopt that hypothesis by which the greatest number of known facts and phenomena may be reconciled.”

Matthew Fontaine Maury

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choose hypotheses that best reconcile existing facts, prioritizing coherence over speculation.

In simple terms: Prefer hypotheses that fit known facts.

Key Takeaway

Select the most unifying explanation.

Themes

science methodology logic

Mood

analytical inquisitive

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

  • research design
  • data analysis
  • theory development

Key Concepts

hypothesis testing coherence falsifiability

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance simplicity and completeness?
  • When should you reject a unifying hypothesis?
A Different Perspective

Complex data may resist simple unification.

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