Chance Quote by Willard Van Orman Quine
“For me the problem of induction is a problem about the world: a problem of how we, as we are now (by our present scientific lights), in a world we never made, should stand better than random, or coin-tossing chances changes of coming out right when we predict by inductions. . . .”
About This Quote
Source Philosophy: Word and Object, 1960
Induction is uncertain; we must trust scientific reasoning despite randomness.
In simple terms: Science relies on imperfect predictions.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty in predictions.
Themes
science
philosophy
uncertainty
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- research planning
- policy making
- everyday decisions
Key Concepts
induction
probability
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle predictive failure?
- What role does randomness play in science?
A Different Perspective
Statistical methods can still be misleading.
![“Some have said that the thesis [of indeterminacy] is a consequence of my behaviorism. Some have said that it is a reductio ad absurdum of my behaviorism. I disagree with this second point, but I agree with the first. I hold further that the behaviorism approach is mandatory. In psychology one may…” quote by Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e0/willard-van-orman-quine-10137_ads_some-have-said-that-the-thesis-of-indete_315688.jpg)
