--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The theory I propose may therefore be…" description: "\"The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of the Electromagnetic Field because it has to do with the space in the neighbourhood of the elec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg" --- # The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of… ![“The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of the Electromagnetic Field because it has to do with the space in the neighbourhood of the electric or magnetic bodies, and it may be called a Dynamical Theory, because it assumes that in the space there is matter in motion, by which the…” quote by James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg) > “The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of the Electromagnetic Field because it has to do with the space in the neighbourhood of the electric or magnetic bodies, and it may be called a Dynamical Theory, because it assumes that in the space there is matter in motion, by which the observed electromagnetic phenomena are produced.” [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maxwell describes his electromagnetic theory as a dynamical model where moving matter in space generates electric and magnetic effects. **In simple terms:** Electromagnetic phenomena arise from moving matter in space. Key Takeaway Study how motion creates fields. Themes physics electromagnetism theory science history Mood inquisitive analytical Type scientific educational When to use this quote - engineering - research - education - technology development Key Concepts field theory wave propagation energy transfer Questions to Reflect On - How does motion produce fields? - What limits does this theory have today? A Different Perspective The model assumes idealized matter and may not account for quantum effects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Called Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-theory-2058447/) [Dynamical Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dynamical-theory-3107135/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Electromagnetic Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electromagnetic-field-1118559/) [Electromagnetic Phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electromagnetic-phenomena-3325220/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Propose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propose/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Electromagnetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-electromagnetic-2089387/) ## Related quotes > [One of the chief peculiarities of this treatise is the doctrine that the true electric current, on which the electromagnetic phenomena depend, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/one-of-the-chief-peculiarities-of-this-treatise-is-the-doctrine-that/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [“In the Treatise James made an important new prediction from his electromagnetic theory-that electromagnetic waves exert a radiation pressure. 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More by James Clerk Maxwell > [This characteristic of modern experimentsthat they consist principally of measurements, is so prominent, that the opinion seems to have got abroad, that in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/this-characteristic-of-modern-experimentsthat-they-consist/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [That small word "Force," they make a barber's block, Ready to put on Meanings most strange and various, fit to shock Pupils of Newton……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/that-small-word-force-they-make-a-barber-s-block-ready-to-put-on/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [But I should be very sorry if an interpretation founded on a most conjectural scientific hypothesis were to get fastened to the text in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/but-i-should-be-very-sorry-if-an-interpretation-founded-on-a-most/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [It is a universal condition of the enjoyable that the mind must believe in the existence of a law, and yet have a mystery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/it-is-a-universal-condition-of-the-enjoyable-that-the-mind-must/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [In Science, it is when we take some interest in the great discoverers and their lives that it becomes endurable, and only when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/in-science-it-is-when-we-take-some-interest-in-the-great-discoverers/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Colour as perceived by us is a function of three independent variables at least three are I think sufficient, but time will show if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/colour-as-perceived-by-us-is-a-function-of-three-independent/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [The true Logic for this world is the Calculus of Probabilities, which takes account of the magnitude of the probability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-true-logic-for-this-world-is-the-calculus-of-probabilities-which/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [One of the chief peculiarities of this treatise is the doctrine that the true electric current, on which the electromagnetic phenomena depend, is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/one-of-the-chief-peculiarities-of-this-treatise-is-the-doctrine-that/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [The dimmed outlines of phenomenal things all merge into one another unless we put on the focusing-glass of theory, and screw it up sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-dimmed-outlines-of-phenomenal-things-all-merge-into-one-another/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [All the mathematical sciences are founded on relations between physical laws and laws of numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/all-the-mathematical-sciences-are-founded-on-relations-between/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Thoroughly conscious ignorance is the prelude to every real advance in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/thoroughly-conscious-ignorance-is-the-prelude-to-every-real-advance/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [The student who uses home made apparatus, which is always going wrong, often learns more than one who has the use of carefully adjusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-student-who-uses-home-made-apparatus-which-is-always-going-wrong/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [My soul is an entangled knot, Upon a liquid vortex wrought By Intellect in the Unseen residing, And thine doth like a convict sit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/my-soul-is-an-entangled-knot-upon-a-liquid-vortex-wrought-by/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [The mathematical difficulties of the theory of rotation arise chiefly from the want of geometrical illustrations and sensible images, by which we might fix…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-mathematical-difficulties-of-the-theory-of-rotation-arise-chiefly/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) > [Mathematicians may flatter themselves that they possess new ideas which mere human language is as yet unable to express. Let them make the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/mathematicians-may-flatter-themselves-that-they-possess-new-ideas/) [James Clerk Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) [Explore all 64 James Clerk Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of the Electromagnetic Field because it has to do with the space in the neighbourhood of the electric or magnetic bodies, and it may be called a Dynamical Theory, because it assumes that in the space there is matter in motion, by which the observed electromagnetic phenomena are produced.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "James Clerk Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-called-a-theory-of-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Assuming" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-called-a-theory-of-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/304/james-clerk-maxwell-10636_assuming_the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-ca_2783013.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The theory I propose may therefore be called a theory of the Electromagnetic Field because it has to do with…” — James Clerk Maxwell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "James Clerk Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clerk-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The theory I propose may therefore...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-called-a-theory-of-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clerk-maxwell/the-theory-i-propose-may-therefore-be-called-a-theory-of-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```