Alternatives Quote by Manfred Eigen
“A theory has only the alternative of being right or wrong. A model has a third possibility: it may be right, but irrelevant.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Theory of Biological Evolution, Manfred Eigen, 1971
A theory is binary: correct or incorrect. A model can be correct yet useless.
In simple terms: A theory is right or wrong; a model can be right but irrelevant.
Key Takeaway
Check if a model truly matters, not just if it works.
Themes
science
philosophy
modeling
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
epistemic
practical
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy analysis
- product development
- academic teaching
Key Concepts
epistemology
relevance
validation
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the model’s relevance evaluated?
- How do you test usefulness?
A Different Perspective
A model’s correctness doesn’t guarantee practical impact.
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