Compelling Quote by Theodosius Dobzhansky
“Scientists often have a naive faith that if only they could discover enough facts about a problem, these facts would somehow arrange themselves in a compelling and true solution.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Genetics and the Origin of Species, 1950
Scientists may overestimate that accumulating data alone will reveal a solution, ignoring the need for theory and synthesis.
In simple terms: Data alone isn’t enough; theory matters.
Key Takeaway
Combine data with strong conceptual frameworks.
Themes
science
methodology
epistemology
Mood
analytical
curious
Type
epistemological
critical
When to use this quote
- research design
- problem solving
- policy analysis
- clinical trials
Key Concepts
hypothesis testing
theory building
data integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you ensure theory guides data collection?
- What role does synthesis play in scientific breakthroughs?
A Different Perspective
Without theory, data can be misleading or incomplete.
![“You can't solve a problem? Well, get down and investigate the present facts and [the problem's] past history! When you have investigated the problem thoroughly, you will know how to solve it.” quote by Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/545/mao-zedong-1123_down-and_you-can-t-solve-a-problem-well-get-down_1288939.jpg)
