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Quote by Martin Gardner

“Chesterton's topic is nothing less than the fundamental contrast between deductive logic, true of all possible worlds, and inductive logic, capable only of telling us how we may reasonably expect this world to behave. Let us hasten to add that Chesterton's analysis is in full agreement with the views of modern logicians. Perhaps his "test of the imagination" is not strictly accurate--who can "imagine" the four-dimensional constructions of relativity?-but in essence his position is unassailable. Logical and mathematical statements are true by definition. They are "empty tautologies," to use a current phrase, like the impressive maxim that there are always six eggs in half a dozen. Nature, on the other hand, is under no similar constraints. Fortunately, her "weird repetitions," as GK calls them, often conform to surprisingly low-order equations. But as Hume and others before Hume made clear, there is no logical reason why she should behave so politely.”

Quote by Martin Gardner

Work

Great Essays in Science

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Author

Martin Gardner
Martin Gardner

Martin Gardner was an accomplished science writer known for his popularization of mathematics, science, and pseudoscience. His work covered a wide range of scientific topics, including mathematics, logic, magic, and the history of science. Born on October 21, 1914, he passed away on May 22, 2010. more

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