--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The belief that science proceeds from…" description: "\"“The belief that science proceeds from observation to theory is still so widely and so firmly held that my denial of it is often met with incredulity. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/karl-r-popper-13077_faith_the-belief-that-science-proceeds-from-ob_1326645.jpg" --- # The belief that science proceeds from observation to… ![“The belief that science proceeds from observation to theory is still so widely and so firmly held that my denial of it is often met with incredulity. I have even been suspected of being insincere- of denying what nobody in his senses would doubt. But in fact the belief that we can start with pure…” quote by Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/karl-r-popper-13077_faith_the-belief-that-science-proceeds-from-ob_1326645.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/karl-r-popper-13077_faith_the-belief-that-science-proceeds-from-ob_1326645.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbb/karl-r-popper-13077_faith_the-belief-that-science-proceeds-from-ob_1326645.jpg) > ““The belief that science proceeds from observation to theory is still so widely and so firmly held that my denial of it is often met with incredulity. I have even been suspected of being insincere- of denying what nobody in his senses would doubt. But in fact the belief that we can start with pure observation alone, without anything in the nature of a theory is absurd; as may be illustrated by the story of the man who dedicated his life to natural science, wrote down everything he could observe, and bequeathed his priceless collection of observations to the Royal Society to be used as evidence. This story should show us that though beetles may profitably be collected, observations may not. Twenty-five years ago I tried to bring home the same point to a group of physics students in Vienna by beginning a lecture with the following instructions : 'Take pencil and paper; carefully observe, and write down what you have observed!' They asked, of course, what I wanted them to observe. Clearly the instruction, 'Observe!' is absurd. (It is not even idiomatic, unless the object of the transitive verb can be taken as understood.) Observation is always selective. It needs a chosen object, a definite task, an interest, a point of view, a problem. And its description presupposes a descriptive language, with property words; it presupposes similarity and classification, which in their turn presuppose interests, points of view, and problems.”” [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science cannot start from pure observation; theory and perspective shape what we notice and record. **In simple terms:** Observations need a purpose and theory. Key Takeaway Recognize the role of theory in observation. Themes philosophy of science epistemology observation theory bias Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - research design - laboratory work - data collection - critical thinking Key Concepts selective perception frameworks language classification Questions to Reflect On - How do your assumptions shape what you notice? - Can you identify the theory behind your observations? 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An open mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/to-see-truth-as-truth-we-don-t-need-a-lot-of-study-it-s-not/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [Recalibration of the mind means clearing our perceptions and recovering our capacity for pure observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilchi-lee/recalibration-of-the-mind-means-clearing-our-perceptions-and/) [Ilchi Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilchi-lee/) > [The manner in which things exist and take place, constitutes what is called the nature of things; and a careful observation of the nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-say/the-manner-in-which-things-exist-and-take-place-constitutes-what-is/) [Jean-Baptiste Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-say/) > [The observation of nature is part of an artist's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-moore/the-observation-of-nature-is-part-of-an-artist-s-life/) [Henry Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-moore/) > [A heightened sense of the observation of nature is one of the chief delights that have come to me through trying to paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/a-heightened-sense-of-the-observation-of-nature-is-one-of-the-chief/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [We have three approaches at our disposal: the observation of nature, reflection, and experimentation. 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Following instructions is overrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/we-don-t-need-to-be-taught-to-make-art-but-sometimes-we-need/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Computers are good at following instructions, but not at reading your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/computers-are-good-at-following-instructions-but-not-at-reading-your/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [I am not good at following rules, I am not good at following instructions, I am not good at driving slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessi-combs/i-am-not-good-at-following-rules-i-am-not-good-at-following/) [Jessi Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessi-combs/) > [“When in the presence of a USA law enforcement, remember that sudden moves, running away, driving away, moving towards them, not following instructions, having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-in-the-presence-of-a-usa-law-enforcement-remember-that-sudden/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Karl R. 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Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) > [“History has no meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-r-popper/history-has-no-meaning/) [Karl R. Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) [Explore all 52 Karl R. Popper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-r-popper/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The belief that science proceeds from observation to theory is still so widely and so firmly held that my denial of it is often met with incredulity. I have even been suspected of being insincere- of denying what nobody in his senses would doubt. But in fact the belief that we can start with pure observation alone, without anything in the nature of a theory is absurd; as may be illustrated by the story of the man who dedicated his life to natural science, wrote down everything he could observe, and bequeathed his priceless collection of observations to the Royal Society to be used as evidence. This story should show us that though beetles may profitably be collected, observations may not. Twenty-five years ago I tried to bring home the same point to a group of physics students in Vienna by beginning a lecture with the following instructions : 'Take pencil and paper; carefully observe, and write down what you have observed!' They asked, of course, what I wanted them to observe. Clearly the instruction, 'Observe!' is absurd. (It is not even idiomatic, unless the object of the transitive verb can be taken as understood.) Observation is always selective. It needs a chosen object, a definite task, an interest, a point of view, a problem. And its description presupposes a descriptive language, with property words; it presupposes similarity and classification, which in their turn presuppose interests, points of view, and problems.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl R. 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