--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Biology has tended to be an observational…" description: "\"Biology has tended to be an observational science, and deriving things from first principles has not been possible in the past, but I hate to predict t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/jeremiah-p-ostriker-62513_been_biology-has-tended-to-be-an-observationa_2946908.png" --- # Biology has tended to be an observational science, and… ![“Biology has tended to be an observational science, and deriving things from first principles has not been possible in the past, but I hate to predict the future on that.” quote by Jeremiah P. Ostriker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/jeremiah-p-ostriker-62513_been_biology-has-tended-to-be-an-observationa_2946908.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/jeremiah-p-ostriker-62513_been_biology-has-tended-to-be-an-observationa_2946908.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/568/jeremiah-p-ostriker-62513_been_biology-has-tended-to-be-an-observationa_2946908.png) > “Biology has tended to be an observational science, and deriving things from first principles has not been possible in the past, but I hate to predict the future on that.” [Jeremiah P. Ostriker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-p-ostriker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science often relies on observation; predicting future breakthroughs from first principles is risky. **In simple terms:** Science is observational; future predictions are uncertain. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty, focus on data-driven research. Themes science uncertainty prediction Mood thoughtful cautious Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - research planning - grant proposals - policy making Key Concepts empiricism theory building Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance observation with theory? - What safeguards improve future forecasts? A Different Perspective Predictions may mislead if not grounded in evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [First Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-principles/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Observational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observational/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [ \[An engineer's\] invention causes things to come into existence from ideas, makes world conform to thought; whereas science, by deriving ideas from observation, makes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-mitcham/an-engineer-s-invention-causes-things-to-come-into-existence-from/) Carl Mitcham > [My own view, which does not rely solely on religious faith or even on an original idea, but rather on ordinary common sense, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/my-own-view-which-does-not-rely-solely-on-religious-faith-or-even-on/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I observe everything around me and when something hits me and it's funny, that's what I talk about. 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