--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scientific research sooner or later, but…" description: "\"Scientific research sooner or later, but inevitably, encounters something ultimately given that it cannot trace back to something else of which it woul..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/ludwig-von-mises-364_derivative_scientific-research-sooner-or-later-but_2926949.png" --- # Scientific research sooner or later, but inevitably… ![“Scientific research sooner or later, but inevitably, encounters something ultimately given that it cannot trace back to something else of which it would appear as the regular or necessary derivative. Scientific progress consists in pushing further back this ultimately given.” quote by Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/ludwig-von-mises-364_derivative_scientific-research-sooner-or-later-but_2926949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/ludwig-von-mises-364_derivative_scientific-research-sooner-or-later-but_2926949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/ludwig-von-mises-364_derivative_scientific-research-sooner-or-later-but_2926949.png) > “Scientific research sooner or later, but inevitably, encounters something ultimately given that it cannot trace back to something else of which it would appear as the regular or necessary derivative. Scientific progress consists in pushing further back this ultimately given.” [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science discovers facts that are not derivable from earlier premises; progress means tracing explanations farther back toward ultimate givens. **In simple terms:** Science finds ultimate facts; progress pushes explanations deeper. Key Takeaway Seek deeper causes, not just surface explanations. Themes philosophy science methodology Mood analytical inquisitive Type theoretical reflective When to use this quote - research design - policy analysis - philosophical inquiry - education curriculum development Key Concepts epistemology causality foundations Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions underlie your search for ultimate causes? - How do you handle unknowable foundations? A Different Perspective Assumes ultimate givens exist and are identifiable, which may be contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Derivative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derivative/) [Derivative Scientific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derivative-scientific-4294354/) [Derivatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derivatives/) [Encounters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encounters/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Pushing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushing/) [Research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research/) [Research Sooner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/research-sooner-4294355/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-progress/) [Scientific research](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-research/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) ## Related quotes > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [The first derivative is the last refuge of a scoundrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-p-kindleberger/the-first-derivative-is-the-last-refuge-of-a-scoundrel/) [Charles P. Kindleberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-p-kindleberger/) > [No one is original. Everyone is derivative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonny-rollins/no-one-is-original-everyone-is-derivative/) [Sonny Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonny-rollins/) > [Don't worry about where you are. Watch the first derivative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-green/don-t-worry-about-where-you-are-watch-the-first-derivative/) [Fred Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-green/) > [A lot of songs are derivative of each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/a-lot-of-songs-are-derivative-of-each-other/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [A derivative is a bet on whether a stock, or a bond or a real estate asset, is going to go up or down.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/a-derivative-is-a-bet-on-whether-a-stock-or-a-bond-or-a-real-estate/) [Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/) > [Who has not been amazed to learn that the function y = ex, like a phoenix rising from its own ashes, is its own derivative?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-le-lionnais/who-has-not-been-amazed-to-learn-that-the-function-y-ex-like-a/) [Francois Le Lionnais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-le-lionnais/) > [Television is a populous, derivative, democratic medium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/television-is-a-populous-derivative-democratic-medium/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [What sometimes enrages me and always disappoints and grieves me is the preference of great schools of learning for the derivative as opposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norbert-wiener/what-sometimes-enrages-me-and-always-disappoints-and-grieves-me-is/) [Norbert Wiener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norbert-wiener/) > [Morality is always derivative. It stems from one's worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/morality-is-always-derivative-it-stems-from-one-s-worldview/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [A futures contract is a derivative, but the futures exchange doesn't call them 'derivatives,' they call them 'futures.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/a-futures-contract-is-a-derivative-but-the-futures-exchange-doesn-t/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [In bitter almond oil, like in a great number of other substances that previously had been counted among the 'aromatic compounds' on behalf of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-wallach/in-bitter-almond-oil-like-in-a-great-number-of-other-substances-that/) [Otto Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-wallach/) > [If you're purely derivative in what you do, then you could very easily get lost along the way. But for me, I might want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/if-you-re-purely-derivative-in-what-you-do-then-you-could-very-easily/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [My career in academic research has not been involved with active management of securities. I've tried to understand risk-and-return relationships; also the pricing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/my-career-in-academic-research-has-not-been-involved-with-active/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [When I evaluate a candidate, one of the most important criteria is what I call “the first derivative.” Is this person learning? Is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-sink/when-i-evaluate-a-candidate-one-of-the-most-important-criteria-is/) [Eric Sink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-sink/) ## More by Ludwig von Mises > [If the members of parliament no longer consider themselves mandatories of the taxpayers but deputies of those receiving salaries, wages, subsidies, doles, and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/if-the-members-of-parliament-no-longer-consider-themselves/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Changes in human conditions are brought about by the pioneering of the cleverest and most energetic men. They take the lead and the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/changes-in-human-conditions-are-brought-about-by-the-pioneering-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [During the 2300 years since Plato, very little opposition has been registered to his ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/during-the-2300-years-since-plato-very-little-opposition-has-been/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Every step by which an individual substitutes concerted action for isolated action results in an immediate and recognizable improvement in his conditions. The advantages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/every-step-by-which-an-individual-substitutes-concerted-action-for/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The capitalistic social order, therefore, is an economic democracy in the strictest sense of the word. In the last analysis, all decisions are dependent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-capitalistic-social-order-therefore-is-an-economic-democracy-in/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Without calculation, economic activity is impossible. Since under Socialism economic calculation is impossible, under Socialism there can be no economic activity in our sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/without-calculation-economic-activity-is-impossible-since-under/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [There is no kind of freedom and liberty other than the kind which the market economy brings about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/there-is-no-kind-of-freedom-and-liberty-other-than-the-kind-which-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Peace and not war is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/peace-and-not-war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [What counts alone is the innovator, the dissenter, the harbinger of things unheard of, the man who rejects the traditional standards and aims at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/what-counts-alone-is-the-innovator-the-dissenter-the-harbinger-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [In reality no food is valued solely for its nutritive power and no garment or house solely for the protection it affords against cold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/in-reality-no-food-is-valued-solely-for-its-nutritive-power-and-no/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [All this talk: the state should do this or that, ultimately means: the police should force consumers to behave otherwise than they would behave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/all-this-talk-the-state-should-do-this-or-that-ultimately-means-the/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The most successful businessmen were often uneducated when measured by the scholastic standards of the teaching profession. But they were equal to their social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-most-successful-businessmen-were-often-uneducated-when-measured/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Two hundred years ago, before the advent of capitalism, a man's social status was fixed from the beginning to the end of his life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/two-hundred-years-ago-before-the-advent-of-capitalism-a-man-s-social/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Facts per se can neither prove nor refute anything. Everything is decided by the interpretation and explanation of the facts, by the ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/facts-per-se-can-neither-prove-nor-refute-anything-everything-is/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) [Explore all 637 Ludwig von Mises quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) ## More Derivative quotes > [Everything is derivative. Everything is a remix, and we all stand on the shoulders of giants - a great phrase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-ohanian/everything-is-derivative-everything-is-a-remix-and-we-all-stand-on/) [Alexis Ohanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-ohanian/) > [I am attracted to anything that does not feel derivative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-miller/i-am-attracted-to-anything-that-does-not-feel-derivative/) [Bennett Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-miller/) > [My career in academic research has not been involved with active management of securities. I've tried to understand risk-and-return relationships; also the pricing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/my-career-in-academic-research-has-not-been-involved-with-active/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [“I would rather die than be derivative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-a-carter/i-would-rather-die-than-be-derivative/) [E.A. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-a-carter/) > [If you're purely derivative in what you do, then you could very easily get lost along the way. But for me, I might want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/if-you-re-purely-derivative-in-what-you-do-then-you-could-very-easily/) [Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/) > [In bitter almond oil, like in a great number of other substances that previously had been counted among the 'aromatic compounds' on behalf of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-wallach/in-bitter-almond-oil-like-in-a-great-number-of-other-substances-that/) [Otto Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-wallach/) > [A futures contract is a derivative, but the futures exchange doesn't call them 'derivatives,' they call them 'futures.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-scholes/a-futures-contract-is-a-derivative-but-the-futures-exchange-doesn-t/) [Myron Scholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myron-scholes/) > [A credit derivative, at its core, is actually a very simple concept... The simplest way to think of a credit derivative is it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blythe-masters/a-credit-derivative-at-its-core-is-actually-a-very-simple-concept-the/) [Blythe Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blythe-masters/) > [At the same time, much of it seems to have to do with recreating things we or others had already done; it seems rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-ritchie/at-the-same-time-much-of-it-seems-to-have-to-do-with-recreating/) [Dennis Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-ritchie/) > [Morality is always derivative. It stems from one's worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/morality-is-always-derivative-it-stems-from-one-s-worldview/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [A lot of songs are derivative of each other. Sometimes you need to take a departure from what you do to something that's slightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/a-lot-of-songs-are-derivative-of-each-other-sometimes-you-need-to/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“No doubt you’ve heard the phrase 'ignorance of the law is no excuse’, and are probably familiar with the statist meaning of that phrase:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/starchild/no-doubt-you-ve-heard-the-phrase-ignorance-of-the-law-is-no-excuse/) [Starchild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/starchild/) > [“Seeing what someone's reading is like seeing the first derivative of their thinking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-casnocha/seeing-what-someone-s-reading-is-like-seeing-the-first-derivative-of/) [Ben Casnocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-casnocha/) > [“Success is a derivative of persistence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/success-is-a-derivative-of-persistence/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [I just think TV is becoming more and more interesting in a way. Films are more and more derivative, you know, whether it's 'Transformers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-abercrombie/i-just-think-tv-is-becoming-more-and-more-interesting-in-a-way-films/) [Joe Abercrombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-abercrombie/) [Browse all 37 Derivative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/derivative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scientific research sooner or later, but inevitably, encounters something ultimately given that it cannot trace back to something else of which it would appear as the regular or necessary derivative. 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