--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good hypothesis in science must have…" description: "\"A good hypothesis in science must have other properties than those of the phenomenon it is immediately invoked to explain, otherwise it is not prolific..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/william-james-228_enough_a-good-hypothesis-in-science-must-have-o_1981505.png" --- # A good hypothesis in science must have other properties… ![“A good hypothesis in science must have other properties than those of the phenomenon it is immediately invoked to explain, otherwise it is not prolific enough.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/william-james-228_enough_a-good-hypothesis-in-science-must-have-o_1981505.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/william-james-228_enough_a-good-hypothesis-in-science-must-have-o_1981505.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acd/william-james-228_enough_a-good-hypothesis-in-science-must-have-o_1981505.png) > “A good hypothesis in science must have other properties than those of the phenomenon it is immediately invoked to explain, otherwise it is not prolific enough.” [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A useful scientific hypothesis must explain more than just the immediate phenomenon, offering broader explanatory power. **In simple terms:** A hypothesis should go beyond the specific case it explains. Key Takeaway Seek broader explanatory scope. Themes science philosophy methodology Mood analytical curious Type academic theoretical When to use this quote - research design - theory building - academic teaching - policy analysis Key Concepts hypothesis testing explanatory power Questions to Reflect On - How can you test a hypothesis’s broader relevance? - What limits arise when extending explanations? 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