--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a…" description: "\"A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg" --- # A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step… ![“A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to make any progress in framing an abstractive theory.” quote by William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg) > “A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to make any progress in framing an abstractive theory.” [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simplifying phenomena into basic principles is a prerequisite for building higher‑level theories. **In simple terms:** First simplify before creating complex theories. Key Takeaway Start with simple models. Themes science methodology theory building Mood analytical cautious Type philosophical methodological When to use this quote - research design - data analysis - theoretical physics - economics Key Concepts reductionism abstraction modeling Questions to Reflect On - What essential details might be lost when simplifying? - When is a complex model preferable? A Different Perspective Oversimplification may discard important nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Framing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/framing/) [Hypothetical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothetical/) [Hypothetical Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothetical-theory-5965304/) [Necessary Preliminary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessary-preliminary-4510960/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Preliminary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preliminary/) [Preliminary Step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preliminary-step-5965303/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Theory Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-necessary-4702394/) ## Related quotes > [We'll only use as much category theory as is necessary. Famous last words...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-abramovich/we-ll-only-use-as-much-category-theory-as-is-necessary-famous-last/) [Roman Abramovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-abramovich/) > [A study of the history of opinion is a necessary preliminary to the emancipation of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/a-study-of-the-history-of-opinion-is-a-necessary-preliminary-to-the/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Seeking is a necessary preliminary to finding, and one who cannot endure the hardship of inquiry cannot expect to harvest the fruit of knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-salisbury/seeking-is-a-necessary-preliminary-to-finding-and-one-who-cannot/) [John of Salisbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-salisbury/) > [Her failure was a useful preliminary to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/her-failure-was-a-useful-preliminary-to-success/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [The dance commonly begins about the middle of the afternoon or later, after sundown. When it begins in the afternoon, there is always an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mooney/the-dance-commonly-begins-about-the-middle-of-the-afternoon-or-later/) [James Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mooney/) > [I made the assumption, wrong of course, that conceptual analysis was a brief preliminary on the road to finding out about the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-churchland/i-made-the-assumption-wrong-of-course-that-conceptual-analysis-was-a/) [Patricia Churchland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-churchland/) > [I've been urged by people forever to try and start a real Rock Hall of Fame. I've had some very, very preliminary discussions about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/i-ve-been-urged-by-people-forever-to-try-and-start-a-real-rock-hall/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [There is a preliminary belief that Tuolumne River water could be captured by other reservoirs that are downstream from Hetch Hetchy, the Cherry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-gonzalez/there-is-a-preliminary-belief-that-tuolumne-river-water-could-be/) [Matt Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-gonzalez/) > [A preliminary agreement in principle is not a deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krystal-ball/a-preliminary-agreement-in-principle-is-not-a-deal/) [Krystal Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krystal-ball/) > [After preliminary research, I zero in on an idea, and then I spend at least four months exploring the topic and in plot-building. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/after-preliminary-research-i-zero-in-on-an-idea-and-then-i-spend-at/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [There's something about sitting face-to-face with an attorney in an office that enables people to come to grips with the very idea of divorce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wasser/there-s-something-about-sitting-face-to-face-with-an-attorney-in-an/) [Laura Wasser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wasser/) > [I'm in that very preliminary stage of wondering how exactly to "pressurize" the novel in some way I've never considered before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leyner/i-m-in-that-very-preliminary-stage-of-wondering-how-exactly-to/) [Mark Leyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leyner/) > [My own eyes are no more than scouts on a preliminary search, for the camera's eye may entirely change my idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/my-own-eyes-are-no-more-than-scouts-on-a-preliminary-search-for-the/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) > [Preliminary drawings or sketches in oil or pastel often have an immediacy and emotional appeal far greater than the final canvas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mellon/preliminary-drawings-or-sketches-in-oil-or-pastel-often-have-an/) [Paul Mellon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mellon/) > [In my work I've never done preliminary drawing, because it's sometimes difficult to repeat something or to continue when the urgency's gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-petherbridge/in-my-work-i-ve-never-done-preliminary-drawing-because-it-s-sometimes/) [Deanna Petherbridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-petherbridge/) ## More by William John Macquorn Rankine > [The laws of thermodynamics may be regarded as particular cases of more general laws, applicable to all such states of matter as constitute Energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-may-be-regarded-as-particular-cases-of/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [Discrepancy between theory and practice, which in sound physical and mechanical science is a delusion, has a real existence in the minds of men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/discrepancy-between-theory-and-practice-which-in-sound-physical-and/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [The hypothesis of molecular vortices is defined to be that which assumes - that each atom of matter consists of a nucleus or central…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/the-hypothesis-of-molecular-vortices-is-defined-to-be-that-which/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [In thermodynamics as well as in other branches of molecular physics , the laws of phenomena have to a certain extent been anticipated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/in-thermodynamics-as-well-as-in-other-branches-of-molecular-physics/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [This law (regarding the theoretical efficiency of heat engines by Mr. Joule), and the law of the maximum efficiency of heat engines, are particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/this-law-regarding-the-theoretical-efficiency-of-heat-engines-by-mr/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [The law of the Conservation of Energy is already known — viz., that the sum of all the energies of the universe, actual and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/the-law-of-the-conservation-of-energy-is-already-known-viz-that-the/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [The law of the conservation of energy is already known, viz. that the sum of the actual and potential energies in the universe is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/the-law-of-the-conservation-of-energy-is-already-known-viz-that-the-2/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [It is possible to express the laws of thermodynamics in the form of independent principles , deduced by induction from the facts of observation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/it-is-possible-to-express-the-laws-of-thermodynamics-in-the-form-of/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) > [The words 'theory' and 'practice' are of Greek origin; they carry our thoughts back to the ancient philosophers by whom they were contrived, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/the-words-theory-and-practice-are-of-greek-origin-they-carry-our/) [William John Macquorn Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) [Explore all 10 William John Macquorn Rankine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/) ## More Expression quotes > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Our fashion for us, it's an expression; first of all of life, I put all of myself in my fashion. Sometimes it's good, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-gabbana/our-fashion-for-us-it-s-an-expression-first-of-all-of-life-i-put-all/) [Stefano Gabbana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefano-gabbana/) > [We can see nothing whatever of the soul unless it is visible in the expression of the countenance; one might call the faces at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/we-can-see-nothing-whatever-of-the-soul-unless-it-is-visible-in-the/) [Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/) > [Early experience shapes the structure and function of the brain. This reveals the fundamental way in which gene expression is determined by experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-siegel/early-experience-shapes-the-structure-and-function-of-the-brain-this/) [Daniel J. Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-j-siegel/) > [Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression. It is so spontaneous. And after singing, I think the violin. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-o-keeffe/singing-has-always-seemed-to-me-the-most-perfect-means-of-expression/) [Georgia O'Keeffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-o-keeffe/) > [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [They are the gateway for our modern esthetic development, the prophets of the new time. They are most of all, the primitives of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/they-are-the-gateway-for-our-modern-esthetic-development-the-prophets/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [The mountain receives our expressions and becomes part of us; we imprint our memories upon it and trust it with out dearest divisions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-barcott/the-mountain-receives-our-expressions-and-becomes-part-of-us-we/) [Bruce Barcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-barcott/) > [In science, the most exciting expression isn’t ‘Eureka!’ It’s ‘Huh?’](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hawley/in-science-the-most-exciting-expression-isn-t-eureka-it-s-huh/) [Michael Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hawley/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 5,024 Expression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to make any progress in framing an abstractive theory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William John Macquorn Rankine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a-preliminary-step-to-reduce/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Expression" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a-preliminary-step-to-reduce/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80d/william-john-macquorn-rankine_expression_a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a_3204992.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to…” — William John Macquorn Rankine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William John Macquorn Rankine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-john-macquorn-rankine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A hypothetical theory is necessary, as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a-preliminary-step-to-reduce/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-john-macquorn-rankine/a-hypothetical-theory-is-necessary-as-a-preliminary-step-to-reduce/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```