Body Quote by Antoine Lavoisier
“If everything in chemistry is explained in a satisfactory manner without the help of phlogiston, it is by that reason alone infinitely probable that the principle does not exist; that it is a hypothetical body, a gratuitous supposition; indeed, it is in the principles of good logic, not to multiply bodies without necessity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Elements of Chemistry, 1789
Unnecessary hypotheses should be discarded; explanations must not multiply entities beyond need.
In simple terms: Avoid adding unneeded ideas; stick to simple, necessary explanations.
Key Takeaway
Prefer parsimonious explanations.
Themes
science
philosophy of science
Occam's razor
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- research design
- educational curricula
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
hypothesis testing
theoretical simplicity
explanatory power
Questions to Reflect On
- Is simplicity always best?
- When is a complex model justified?
A Different Perspective
Complex models may capture nuance but risk overcomplication.
![“I've used the Phoenix Centrifuge to replicate what the body's going to go through on the flight up. I've also done some gravity tests with ZERO-G [a charter-flight service in Arlington, Va., that uses modified Boeing 727s to simulate weightlessness], which went great.” quote by Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aa1/richard-branson-256_adventure_i-ve-used-the-phoenix-centrifuge-to-repl_903.jpg)
