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Theory Quotes

Browse 4151 quotes about Theory.

Theory Quotes

“By having simplified what is known, physicists have been led into realms which as yet are anything but simple. That at some time, they, too, will appear as simple consequences of a theory of which no one has yet dreamed is not a statement of fact.It is a statement of faith.”

Has Beens Facts Simple Known Theory Consequence Statements Realms Physicist

Book:The Pursuit of Simplicity

Source: The Pursuit of Simplicity

“I can have little patience with those who oppose ... the theory of evolution or what are called "mechanistic" explanations of the phenomena of life because of certain moral consequences which at first seem to follow from these theories, and still less with those who regard it as irrelevant or impious to ask certain questions at all. By refusing to face the facts , the conservative only weakens his own position.”

“Thus evidence that contradicts the global warming theory, climate Chicken Littles enlist as evidence for the correctness of their theory; every permutation in weather patterns — warm or cold — is said to be a consequence of that warming or proof of it.”

Said Theory Cold Evidence Consequence Climate Patterns Warm Proof Weather Global Warming Correctness

Author:Ilana Mercer

“Every bit of theorizing I've ever done, including my interest in Berg, has come as a consequence of discoveries I made as a composer and interests that I developed as a composer. I never thought of my theory as being a kind of irrelevant activity to my composing.”

Kind Made Done Bits Interest Theory Activity Discovery Consequence Including Composer Irrelevant Composing

Author:George Perle

“Looking back to data, we can see if the consequences are plausible; looking forward to theory, we can see if general principles are suggested.”

Ifs Principles Theory Consequence Data Looking Back Looking Forward Plausible

Book:Hidden order: how adaptation builds complexity

Source: Hidden order: how adaptation builds complexity

“Human rights are an aspect of natural law, a consequence of the way the universe works, as solid and as real as photons or the concept of pi. The idea of self- ownership is the equivalent of Pythagoras' theorem, of evolution by natural selection, of general relativity, and of quantum theory. Before humankind discovered any of these, it suffered, to varying degrees, in misery and ignorance.”

“The material which a scientist actually has at his disposal, his laws, his experimental results, his mathematical techniques, his epistemological prejudices, his attitude towards the absurd consequences of the theories which he accepts, is indeterminate in many ways, ambiguous, and never fully separated from the historical background . This material is always contaminated by principles which he does not know and which, if known, would be extremely hard to test.”

Source: Against Method

“The confusion between temperament and character has had serious consequences for ethical theory. Preferences with regard to differences in temperament are mere matters of subjective taste. But differences in character are ethically of the most fundamental importance.”

Matter Character Differences Serious Theory Taste Consequence Importance Regard Fundamentals Mere Confusion Ethical Preference Subjective Temperament

Book:Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics

Source: Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics

“The credit which the apparent conformity with recognized scientific standards can gain for seemingly simple but false theories may, as the present instance shows, have grave consequences.”

May Shows Simple Economy Theory Standards Consequence Gains Credit Graves Instance Conformity

Author:Friedrich August von Hayek

“We have seen that in certain respects operant reinforcement resembles the natural selection of evolutionary theory. Just as genetic characteristics which arise as mutations are selected or discarded by their consequences, so novel forms of behavior are selected or discarded through reinforcement.”

Form Certain Natural Novel Theory Behavior Consequence Arise Characteristics Selection Natural Selection Selected Discarded Mutation Reinforcement

Book:Science And Human Behavior

Source: Science And Human Behavior

“Science fiction - and the correct shortcut is 'sf' - uses actual scientific facts or theories for the source ideas or framework of the story. It has some scientific content, however speculative. If it breaks a law of physics, it knows it's doing so and follows up the consequences. If it invents a society of aliens, it does so with some respect for and knowledge of the social sciences and what you might call social probabilities. And some of it is literarily self-aware enough to treat its metaphors as metaphors.”

“Natural Selection is not Evolution. Yet, ever since the two words have been in common use, the theory of Natural Selection has been employed as a convenient abbreviation for the theory of Evolution by means of Natural Selection, put forward by Darwin and Wallace. This has had the unfortunate consequence that the theory of Natural Selection itself has scarcely ever, if ever, received separate consideration.”

Ifs Mean Has Beens Two Use Natural Common Theory Evolution Consequence Consideration Unfortunate Employed Selection Convenient Natural Selection Theory Of Evolution Abbreviations

Author:Ronald Fisher

“[How to think about a problem:] The first step is to make the problem specific . . . ; The second step is to form theories freely of how to rid yourself of that burden . . . ; The third step is to develop in foresight the consequences of your proposals . . . ; The fourth and final step in thinking is to compare the consequences of your proposals to see which is best in the light of your scheme of life as a whole . . . ; Whether you choose a vacation or a spouse, a party or a candidate, a cause to contribute to or a creed to live by - think!”

“We own ourselves. This is the core of a libertarian theory of rights. But on this theory, while we are at liberty to kill ourselves (regardless of the consequences of others), we are not allowed to kill others, not even if this means that there we be fewer murders in the future, totally speaking.”

Ifs Mean Liberty Rights Theory Consequence Murder Libertarian Core Fewer

Author:Torbjorn Tannsjo