--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For a theory to be scientific it must be…" description: "\"For a theory to be scientific it must be capable of being refuted by the evidence. Given that we have had three decades of rising temperature followed ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/peter-lilley-53804_capable_for-a-theory-to-be-scientific-it-must-be_1371955.jpg" --- # For a theory to be scientific it must be capable of being… ![“For a theory to be scientific it must be capable of being refuted by the evidence. Given that we have had three decades of rising temperature followed by a decade of stable and slightly falling temperatures worldwide, how many decades would you require before you are convinced that the theory on…” quote by Peter Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/peter-lilley-53804_capable_for-a-theory-to-be-scientific-it-must-be_1371955.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/peter-lilley-53804_capable_for-a-theory-to-be-scientific-it-must-be_1371955.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/peter-lilley-53804_capable_for-a-theory-to-be-scientific-it-must-be_1371955.jpg) > “For a theory to be scientific it must be capable of being refuted by the evidence. Given that we have had three decades of rising temperature followed by a decade of stable and slightly falling temperatures worldwide, how many decades would you require before you are convinced that the theory on which you are committing £400bn of taxpayers' money might be slightly wrong?” [Peter Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lilley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Scientific theories must be testable; the climate claim is questioned due to recent temperature trends, implying the need for more evidence before large investments. **In simple terms:** Science requires testable predictions. Key Takeaway Demand evidence before spending. Themes science policy climate change Mood skeptical analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - government budgeting - environmental research - public discourse Key Concepts falsifiability risk assessment public funding Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would change your view? - How should policy balance uncertainty and risk? A Different Perspective The argument may oversimplify climate dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Taxpayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxpayers/) ## Related quotes > [“argued, with the inventive cunning that each of us possesses when a pet theory of ours is refuted by the evidence,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/argued-with-the-inventive-cunning-that-each-of-us-possesses-when-a/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [A theory is scientific only if it can be disproved. 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