--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hypotheses we accept ought to explain…" description: "\"The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this: our hypotheses ought to foretell pheno..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/william-whewell-17887_accepting_the-hypotheses-we-accept-ought-to-explai_2599080.jpg" --- # The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which… ![“The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this: our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed.” quote by William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/william-whewell-17887_accepting_the-hypotheses-we-accept-ought-to-explai_2599080.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/william-whewell-17887_accepting_the-hypotheses-we-accept-ought-to-explai_2599080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/william-whewell-17887_accepting_the-hypotheses-we-accept-ought-to-explai_2599080.jpg) > “The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this: our hypotheses ought to foretell phenomena which have not yet been observed.” [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A good hypothesis must explain known data and predict new, unseen phenomena. **In simple terms:** Explain and predict. Key Takeaway Seek testable predictions. Themes science prediction theory methodology Mood analytical inquisitive Type philosophical scientific When to use this quote - research design - theory building - experimental planning Key Concepts Induction falsifiability Questions to Reflect On - What predictions does your hypothesis make? - How will you test unseen phenomena? A Different Perspective Predictions may be wrong, limiting usefulness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Hypotheses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses/) [Hypotheses Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses-accept-903721/) [Hypotheses Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypotheses-ought-903720/) [Hypothesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypothesis/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Observed Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observed-ought-1929063/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Hypotheses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-hypotheses-903722/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [The hypotheses which we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. But they ought to do more than this; our hypotheses ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-hypotheses-which-we-accept-ought-to-explain-phenomena-which-we/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Beware of the problem of testing too many hypotheses; the more you torture the data, the more likely they are to confess, but confessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stigler/beware-of-the-problem-of-testing-too-many-hypotheses-the-more-you/) [Stephen Stigler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stigler/) > [Progress is achieved by exchanging our theories for new ones which go further than the old, until we find one based on a larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/progress-is-achieved-by-exchanging-our-theories-for-new-ones-which-go/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [The number of hypotheses available to explain any given phenomenon is infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-number-of-hypotheses-available-to-explain-any-given-phenomenon-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Whenever two hypotheses cover the facts, use the simpler of the two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-of-ockham/whenever-two-hypotheses-cover-the-facts-use-the-simpler-of-the-two/) [William of Ockham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-of-ockham/) > [... no scientific worker has a fixed level of significance at which from year to year, and in all circumstances, he rejects hypotheses; he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-fisher/no-scientific-worker-has-a-fixed-level-of-significance-at-which-from/) [Ronald Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-fisher/) > [Unfortunately, in the field of evolution most explanations are not good. As a matter of fact, they hardly qualify as explanations at all; they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-macbeth/unfortunately-in-the-field-of-evolution-most-explanations-are-not/) [Norman Macbeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-macbeth/) > [The physicist can never subject an isolated hypothesis to experimental test, but only a whole group of hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-duhem/the-physicist-can-never-subject-an-isolated-hypothesis-to/) [Pierre Duhem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-duhem/) > [Better our hypotheses die for our errors than ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-popper/better-our-hypotheses-die-for-our-errors-than-ourselves/) [Karl Popper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-popper/) > [I feign no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/i-feign-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Hypotheses are the scaffolds which are erected in front of a building and removedd when the building is completed. 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I frame no hypotheses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/hypotheses-non-fingo-i-frame-no-hypotheses/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [In science, each new result, sometimes quite surprising, heralds a step forward and allows one to discard some hypotheses, even though one or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-b-prusiner/in-science-each-new-result-sometimes-quite-surprising-heralds-a-step/) [Stanley B. Prusiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-b-prusiner/) > [Whether statistics be an art or a science... or a scientific art, we concern ourselves little. It is the basis of social and political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolphe-quetelet/whether-statistics-be-an-art-or-a-science-or-a-scientific-art-we/) [Adolphe Quetelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolphe-quetelet/) ## More by William Whewell > [In order that the facts obtained by observation and experiment may be capable of being used in furtherance of our exact and solid knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/in-order-that-the-facts-obtained-by-observation-and-experiment-may-be/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [“And so no force however great can stretch a cord however fine into a horizontal line that shall be absolutely straight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/and-so-no-force-however-great-can-stretch-a-cord-however-fine-into-a/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [We cannot observe external things without some degree of Thought; nor can we reflect upon our Thoughts, without being influenced in the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-cannot-observe-external-things-without-some-degree-of-thought-nor/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The catastrophist constructs theories, the uniformitarian demolishes them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-catastrophist-constructs-theories-the-uniformitarian-demolishes/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The system becomes more coherent as it is further extended. The elements which we require for explaining a new class of facts are already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-system-becomes-more-coherent-as-it-is-further-extended-the/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The present generation finds itself the heir of a vast patrimony of science; and it must needs concern us to know the steps by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-present-generation-finds-itself-the-heir-of-a-vast-patrimony-of/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The object of science is knowledge; the objects of art are works. In art, truth is the means to an end; in science, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-object-of-science-is-knowledge-the-objects-of-art-are-works-in/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The person who did most to give to analysis the generality and symmetry which are now its pride, was also the person who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-person-who-did-most-to-give-to-analysis-the-generality-and/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [...the question undoubtedly is, or soon will be, not whether or no we shall employ notation in chemistry, but whether we shall use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-question-undoubtedly-is-or-soon-will-be-not-whether-or-no-we/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [We need very much a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I should incline to call him a scientist. \[The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-need-very-much-a-name-to-describe-a-cultivator-of-science-in/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The earlier truths are not expelled but absorbed, not contradicted but extended; and the history of each science, which may thus appear like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-earlier-truths-are-not-expelled-but-absorbed-not-contradicted-but/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Astronomy is ... the only progressive Science which the ancient world produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/astronomy-is-the-only-progressive-science-which-the-ancient-world/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/every-failure-is-a-step-to-success-every-detection-of-what-is-false/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [It is a test of true theories not only to account for but to predict phenomena.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/it-is-a-test-of-true-theories-not-only-to-account-for-but-to-predict/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Every failure is a step to success. Every detection of what is false directs us towards what is true: every trial exhausts some tempting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/every-failure-is-a-step-to-success-every-detection-of-what-is-false-2/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) [Explore all 36 William Whewell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The hypotheses we accept ought to explain phenomena which we have observed. 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