Home / Quotes / Quote by Talcott Parsons

Quote by Talcott Parsons

“A scientifically unimportant discovery is one which, however true and however interesting for other reasons, has no consequences for a system of theory with which scientists in that field are concerned.”

Book:The Structure of Social Action: A Study in Social Theory with Special Reference to a Group of Recent European Writers

Work

The Structure of Social Action: A Study in Social Theory with Special Reference to a Group of Recent European Writers

The Structure of Social Action is a seminal work that delves into the intricacies of social theory, analyzing the contributions of various European thinkers. It provides a detailed study of the theoretical underpinnings and methodologies used in social science research. more

Author

Talcott Parsons

Talcott Parsons (December 13, 1902 - May 8, 1979) was an influential American sociologist known for his structural functionalist theory. His work provided significant insights into understanding social structures, social change, and the functioning of social systems. more

“A theory is the more impressive the greater the simplicity of its premises is, the more different kinds of things it relates, and the more extended is its area of applicability. Therefore the deep impression which classical thermodynamics made upon me. It is the only physical theory of universal content concerning which I am convinced that within the framework of the applicability of its basic concepts, it will never be overthrown.”

Source: A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion: The Essential Scientific Works of Albert Einstein

“Any one whose disposition leads him to attach more weight to unexplained difficulties than to the explanation of facts will certainly reject my theory.”

Facts Science Theory Evidence Weight Difficulty Explanation Rejection Rejects Disposition Unexplained

Book:On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

Source: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection: Or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life

“As is well known the principle of virtual velocities transforms all statics into a mathematical assignment, and by D'Alembert's principle for dynamics, the latter is again reduced to statics. Although it is is very much in order that in gradual training of science and in the instruction of the individual the easier precedes the more difficult, the simple precedes the more complicated, the special precedes the general, yet the min, once it has arrived at the higher standpoint, demands the reverse process whereby all statics appears only as a very special case of mechanics.”

“Buffon, who, with all his theoretical ingenuity and extraordinary eloquence, I suspect had little actual information in the science on which he wrote so admirably For instance, he tells us that the cow sheds her horns every two years; a most palpable error. ... It is wonderful that Buffon who lived so much in the country at his noble seat should have fallen into such a blunder I suppose he has confounded the cow with the deer.”

Source: The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D.: Comprehending an Account of His Studies and Numerous Works, in Chronological Order; a Series of His Epistolary Correspondence and Conversations with Many Eminent Persons; and Various Original Pieces of His Composition Never Before Published: the Whole Exhibiting a View of Literature and Literary Men in Great-Britain, for Near Half a Century During which He Flourished

“By an application of the theory of relativity to the taste of readers, today in Germany I am called a German man of science, and in England I am represented as a Swiss Jew. If I come to be represented as a bête noire, the descriptions will be reversed, and I shall become a Swiss Jew for the Germans and a German man of science for the English!”

Ifs Men Today Science Theory Reader Taste England Jew Germany Description Application Relativity Swiss Theories Of Relativity

Author:Albert Einstein

“Classical thermodynamics ... is the only physical theory of universal content which I am convinced ... will never be overthrown.”

Science Theory Universal Convinced Thermodynamics

Author:Albert Einstein

“Do you see this egg? With this you can topple every theological theory, every church or temple in the world.”

World Science Church Theory Temples Eggs Theological

Book:Selected Writings

Source: Selected Writings

“Entropy theory is indeed a first attempt to deal with global form; but it has not been dealing with structure. All it says is that a large sum of elements may have properties not found in a smaller sample of them.”

Firsts May Form Science Found Deals Theory Elements Structure Property Sample Entropy