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Theory Quotes

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Theory Quotes

“If we are uncritical we shall always find what we want: we shall look for, and find, confirmations, and we shall look away from, and not see, whatever might be dangerous to our pet theories. In this way it is only too easy to obtain what appears to be overwhelming evidence in favor of a theory which, if approached critically, would have been refuted.”

Ifs Way Want Looks Has Beens Might Easy Dangerous Theory Evidence Favors Pet Overwhelming Confirmation Refutation

Book:The Poverty of Historicism

Source: The Poverty of Historicism

“The most compelling confirmation of Marx's theory of history is late capitalist society. There is a sense in which this case is becoming truer as time passes.”

Cases Theory Becoming Late Capitalist Compelling Time Passes Confirmation

Book:Why Marx Was Right

Source: Why Marx Was Right

“The degree of confirmation assigned to any given hypothesis is sensitive to properties of the entire belief system... simplicity, plausibility, and conservatism are properties that theories have in virtue of their relation to the whole structure of scientific beliefs taken collectively. A measure of conservatism or simplicity would be a metric over global properties of belief systems.”

Whole Would Be Belief Given Virtue Taken Theory Degrees Relation Structure Property Simplicity Sensitive Hypothesis Conservatism Belief Systems Confirmation Metrics

Author:Jerry Fodor

“A geometrical theory in physical interpretation can never be validated with mathematical certainty ... ; like any other theory of empirical science, it can acquire only a more or less high degree of confirmation.”

Theory Degrees Certainty Mathematical Acquire Interpretation Confirmation

Book:The Philosophy of Carl G. Hempel: Studies in Science, Explanation, and Rationality

Source: The Philosophy of Carl G. Hempel: Studies in Science, Explanation, and Rationality