Discovery Quote by Alfred Wegener
““Scientists still do not appear to understand sufficiently that all earth sciences must contribute evidence toward unveiling the state of our planet in earlier times, and that the truth of the matter can only be reached by combing all this evidence. ... It is only by combing the information furnished by all the earth sciences that we can hope to determine 'truth' here, that is to say, to find the picture that sets out all the known facts in the best arrangement and that therefore has the highest degree of probability. Further, we have to be prepared always for the possibility that each new discovery, no matter what science furnishes it, may modify the conclusions we draw.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Scientific Conference on Earth Sciences, 1935
Integrating data from all earth science disciplines is essential to accurately reconstruct past planetary conditions, acknowledging that new findings may alter current interpretations.
In simple terms: Combine all earth science evidence to understand past Earth, stay open to new data.
Key Takeaway
Embrace interdisciplinary research and remain adaptable.
Themes
science
interdisciplinary
history
uncertainty
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
academic
informative
When to use this quote
- paleoclimate reconstruction
- educational curricula
- policy making
- public outreach
Key Concepts
geology
climatology
geochemistry
physics
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we improve data integration across disciplines?
- What safeguards prevent overconfidence in reconstructions?
A Different Perspective
Limited by incomplete records and methodological biases.
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