Biology Quote by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
“Is evolution a theory, a system, or an hypothesis? It is much more: it is a general condition to which all theories, all hypotheses, all systems must bow and which they must satisfy henceforward if they are to be thinkable and true.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Phenomenon of Man by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, 1955
All scientific ideas must fit a broader universal condition, otherwise they cannot be considered valid.
In simple terms: Theories must align with a larger truth.
Key Takeaway
Ensure ideas fit the bigger picture.
Themes
science
philosophy
truth
universality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- research
- theoretical development
- academic discourse
Key Concepts
epistemology
systemic thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- Can any theory truly satisfy a universal condition?
- How do paradigm shifts fit this view?
A Different Perspective
The claim may be too absolute, ignoring provisional nature of science.
![“Evolution is a theory in a special philosophical sense of science, but in terms of ordinary laymen's use of language, it's a fact, .. Evolution is a fact in the same sense that it's a fact that the Earth is round and not flat, [that] the Earth goes round the Sun. Both those are also theories, but…” quote by Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/237/richard-dawkins-115_earth_evolution-is-a-theory-in-a-special-philo_1969521.jpg)
![“The whole [scientific] process resembles biological evolution. A problem is like an ecological niche, and a theory is like a gene or a species which is being tested for viability in that niche.” quote by David Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc1/david-deutsch-18612_biology_the-whole-scientific-process-resembles-b_2458815.jpg)
