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Theory Quotes

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Theory Quotes

“Evolution is a theory in a special philosophical sense of science, but in terms of ordinary laymen's use of language, it's a fact, .. Evolution is a fact in the same sense that it's a fact that the Earth is round and not flat, [that] the Earth goes round the Sun. Both those are also theories, but they're theories that have never been disproved and never will be disproved.”

Facts Use Earth Language Term Sun Special Theory Evolution Ordinary Philosophical Rounds Flats Layman Use Of Language

Author:Richard Dawkins

“The theory of punctuated equilibrium, proposed by Niles Eldredge and myself, is not, as so often misunderstood, a radical claim for truly sudden change, but a recognition that ordinary processes of speciation, properly conceived as glacially slow by the standard of our own life-span, do not resolve into geological time as long sequences of insensibly graded intermediates (the traditional, or gradualistic, view), but as geologically "sudden" origins at single bedding planes.”

“It seems to me obvious that infants and many animals that do not in any ordinary sense have a language or perform speech acts nonetheless have Intentional states. Only someone in the grip of a philosophical theory would deny that small babies can literally be said to want milk and that dogs want to be let out or believe that their master is at the door.”

Want Believe Said States Seems Language Animal Doors Dog Masters Theory Baby Speech Ordinary Philosophical Obvious Deny Milk Infant

Author:John Searle

“People sometimes try to score debating points by saying, Evolution is only a theory. That is correct, but it's important to understand what that means. It is also only a theory that the world goes round the Sun - it's just a theory for which there is an immense amount of evidence. There are many scientific theories that are in doubt. Even within evolution, there is some room for controversy. But that we are cousins of apes and jackals and starfish, let's say, that is a fact in the ordinary sense of the word.”

“Theory may be deliberate, as in a chapter on chemistry, or it may be second nature, as in the immemorial doctrine of ordinary enduring middle-sized physical objects.”

May Middle Objects Theory Ordinary Endure Doctrine Chemistry Chapters Deliberate

Author:Willard Van Orman Quine

“What we grieve for is not the loss of a grand vision, but rather the loss of common things, events and gestures.... ordinariness is the most precious thing we struggle for, what the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto fought for. Not noble causes or abstract theories. But the right to go on living with a sense of purpose and a sense of self-worth--an ordinary life.”

“If we do discover a complete theory, it should be in time understandable in broad principle by everyone. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people be able to take part in the discussion of why we and the universe exist.”

People Ifs Should Able Universe Principles Theory Ordinary Scientist Philosopher Discussion Broads Ordinary People Understanding The Universe

Book:A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

Source: A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes

“The ordinary operations of algebra suffice to resolve problems in the theory of curves.”

Problem Theory Ordinary Operations Resolve Curves Algebra

Author:Joseph-Louis Lagrange

“However, one new theory says that dark matter may be ordinary matter in a parallel universe. If a galaxy is hovering above in another dimension, we would not be able to see it. It would be invisible, yet we would feel its gravity. Hence, it might explain dark matter.”

Ifs Feels May Matter Might Would Be Able Universe Dark Theory Ordinary Invisible Dimensions Gravity Galaxy Parallels Hovering Parallel Universe Dark Matter

Author:Michio Kaku

“For the law, the clarity of language and the finality of judgment is crucial, because you have to decide a case one way or another - whether it is criminal or civil or whatever. In ordinary life, you do not have to decide things with absolute finality. You do not have to decide on a theory in order to behave in a certain way towards other people.”

People Way Law Certain Order Language Cases Theory Judgment Ordinary Absolutes Criminals Clarity One Way Behave Crucial Ordinary Life Finality

Author:Talal Asad

“Ordinary people - churches, too - have a role to force politicians to respond. Governments are not impressed with theories, but governments are impressed with people who change their minds about things.”

People Mind Government Force Church Roles Theory Politician Ordinary Impressed Ordinary People Not Impressed

Author:Allan Boesak

“As theories increased, simple medicines..were forgotten, at least in the politer nations. ...Medical books, were immensely multiplied,...(towards) an abstruse science, quite out of reach of ordinary men.”

Men Book Age Nations Dark Simple Theory Ordinary Medicine Forgotten Medical Dark Ages Ordinary Man

Author:John Wesley

“Since natural law was thought to be accessible to the ordinary man, the theory invited each juror to inquire for himself whether a particular rule of law was consonant with principles of higher law. This view is reflected in John Adams' statement that it would be an 'absurdity' for jurors to be required to accept the judge's view of the law, 'against their own opinion, judgment, and conscience.'”

“A 'truth' detached and purified of pleasures of ordinary life is not worth a damn in my view. Every grand theory and noble sentiment ought to be first tested in the kitchen-and then in bed, of course.”

Firsts Life Is Courses Pleasure Views Theory Ought Bed Ordinary Noble Damn Kitchen Sentiments Tested Detached Ordinary Life

Author:Charles Simic