--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If someone were to propose that the…" description: "\"“If someone were to propose that the planets go around the sun because all planet matter has a kind of tendency for movement, a kind of motility, let u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/richard-p-feynman-495_evidence_if-someone-were-to-propose-that-the-plan_2848915.jpg" --- # If someone were to propose that the planets go around the… ![“If someone were to propose that the planets go around the sun because all planet matter has a kind of tendency for movement, a kind of motility, let us call it an ‘oomph,’ this theory could explain a number of other phenomena as well. So this is a good theory, is it not? No. It is nowhere near as…” quote by Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/richard-p-feynman-495_evidence_if-someone-were-to-propose-that-the-plan_2848915.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/richard-p-feynman-495_evidence_if-someone-were-to-propose-that-the-plan_2848915.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/richard-p-feynman-495_evidence_if-someone-were-to-propose-that-the-plan_2848915.jpg) > ““If someone were to propose that the planets go around the sun because all planet matter has a kind of tendency for movement, a kind of motility, let us call it an ‘oomph,’ this theory could explain a number of other phenomena as well. So this is a good theory, is it not? No. It is nowhere near as good as the proposition that the planets move around the sun under the influence of a central force which varies exactly inversely as the square of the distance from the center. The second theory is better because it is so specific; it is so obviously unlikely to be the result of chance. It is so definite that the barest error in the movement can show that it is wrong; but the planets could wobble all over the place, and, according to the first theory, you could say, ‘Well, that is the funny behavior of the ‘oomph.”” [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feynman argues that a theory based on a vague “oomph” is inferior to the precise inverse‑square law of gravitation, which makes testable, specific predictions. **In simple terms:** Precise laws beat vague ideas. Key Takeaway Prefer specific, testable explanations. Themes science physics theory methodology precision Mood analytical inquisitive Type scientific educational When to use this quote - teaching physics - scientific research - critical thinking Key Concepts empiricism falsifiability Newtonian gravity Questions to Reflect On - Why prefer precise laws over vague forces? - How do we test such theories? A Different Perspective Complex phenomena may need more than simple inverse‑square models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around The Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-sun/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Good Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-theory-323747/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Oomph Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oomph-theory-3779951/) [Planet Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planet-matter-3779953/) [Planets Wobble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planets-wobble-3779952/) [Pseudoscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pseudoscience/) [Rationalization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationalization/) [Rigor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rigor/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-better-496197/) ## Related quotes > [Any theory is better than no theory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fuller-albright/any-theory-is-better-than-no-theory/) [Fuller Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fuller-albright/) > [Nature first, then theory. 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Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [“There's a big difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/there-s-a-big-difference-between-knowing-the-name-of-something-and/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [The fact that you are not sure means that it is possible that there is another way someday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/the-fact-that-you-are-not-sure-means-that-it-is-possible-that-there/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [You can always recognize truth by its beauty and simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/you-can-always-recognize-truth-by-its-beauty-and-simplicity/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [One cannot understand... the universality of laws of nature, the relationship of things, without an understanding of mathematics. There is no other way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/one-cannot-understand-the-universality-of-laws-of-nature-the/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Mathematics is not just a language. Mathematics is a language plus reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/mathematics-is-not-just-a-language-mathematics-is-a-language-plus/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [A poet once said, "The whole universe is in a glass of wine." We will probably never know in what sense he meant that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/a-poet-once-said-the-whole-universe-is-in-a-glass-of-wine-we-will/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I was a very shy character, always feeling uncomfortable because everybody was stronger than I, and always afraid I would look like a sissy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/i-was-a-very-shy-character-always-feeling-uncomfortable-because/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) [Explore all 515 Richard P. Feynman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) ## More Evidence quotes > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. 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No. It is nowhere near as good as the proposition that the planets move around the sun under the influence of a central force which varies exactly inversely as the square of the distance from the center. The second theory is better because it is so specific; it is so obviously unlikely to be the result of chance. It is so definite that the barest error in the movement can show that it is wrong; but the planets could wobble all over the place, and, according to the first theory, you could say, ‘Well, that is the funny behavior of the ‘oomph.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard P. 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