Concept Quote by Richard P. Feynman
“The situation in the sciences is this: A concept or an idea which cannot be measured or cannot be referred directly to experiment may or may not be useful. It need not exist in a theory.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: "The Character of Physical Law", Cornell University, 1965
Ideas lacking measurable or experimental reference may still be useful, but they aren't required to exist in a theory.
In simple terms: Unmeasurable ideas can be useful but aren't essential to theory.
Key Takeaway
Value ideas for utility, not just measurability.
Themes
science
philosophy
theory development
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research design
- theoretical modeling
- philosophical debate
- science policy
Key Concepts
empiricism
conceptual utility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when an idea is worth pursuing?
- What role should intuition play in science?
A Different Perspective
May lead to speculative, untestable theories.
![“Whether or not science can be applied to that mental construct [i.e. the designed entity] is a matter of availability. If there is body of scientific knowledge that can be applied, then it would be foolish not to exploit it. However, if there is none, it does not mean that the thing cannot be…” quote by Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/17d/henry-petroski-10198_availability_whether-or-not-science-can-be-applied-to_341822.jpg)
