Animal Quote by Hilary Kornblith
“The fact that these scientific theories have a fine track record of successful prediction and explanation speaks for itself. (Which is not to say that I don't directly discuss the work of those philosophers who would disagree.) But even if we grant this, many will argue that scientific knowledge in humans, and, indeed, reflective knowledge in general, is quite different in kind from the knowledge we see in other animals.”
About This Quote
Scientific theories are valued for their predictive success and explanatory power, distinguishing human reflective knowledge from animal cognition.
In simple terms: Science works because it predicts well, unlike animal instincts.
Key Takeaway
Trust predictive success, but recognize limits.
Themes
science
prediction
human cognition
philosophy
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
philosophical
informative
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- public policy
- science communication
Key Concepts
epistemology
theory validation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance predictive science with other forms of knowing?
- What are the limits of scientific explanation?
A Different Perspective
Human knowledge may involve non‑predictive aspects science science can’t capture.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
