Causes Quote by Stephen Jay Gould
“Results rarely specify their causes unambiguously. If we have no direct evidence of fossils or human chronicles, if we are forced to infer a process only from its modern results, then we are usually stymied or reduced to speculation about probabilities. For many roads lead to almost any Rome.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, 2002
Scientific inference from present evidence alone is ambiguous, leading to multiple possible explanations and uncertainty.
In simple terms: We can’t always pinpoint causes from current results.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and seek multiple lines of evidence.
Themes
science
uncertainty
inference
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
scientific
critical
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
evolution
probability
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- What methods can reduce speculation?
- How do you weigh competing explanations?
A Different Perspective
It may underplay the value of indirect evidence.
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