quotations about theory and theories
Scientific theories are more than just ideas -- they represent our best understanding of the Universe at this time, and they are supported by evidence. However new evidence can arise which challenges the old theories.... Newton's theory of gravity successfully stood for 300 years but was unable to explain Mercury's orbit, and was replaced by general relativity.
HELEN CAMMACK
"Science truly is a world of inherent uncertainty", The Scotsman, May 22, 2017
There is no great harm in the theorist who makes up a new theory to fit a new event. But the theorist who starts with a false theory and then sees everything as making it come true is the most dangerous enemy of human reason.
G. K. CHESTERTON
The Flying Inn
It is not enough for theory to describe and analyse, it must itself be an event in the universe it describes. In order to do this theory must partake of and become the acceleration of this logic. It must tear itself from all referents and take pride only in the future. Theory must operate on time at the cost of a deliberate distortion of present reality.
JEAN BAUDRILLARD
"Why Theory?", The Ecstasy of Communication
We can do nothing without a theory, not even the most trivial act; all our actions are the result of forethought--that is, we theorize about them before we do them.
DAVID G. CROLY
"Illustrated Journalism", Views and Interviews on Journalism
Philosophical theories or ideas, as points of view, instruments of criticism, may help us to gather up what might otherwise pass unregarded by us. "Philosophy is the microscope of thought." The theory or idea or system which requires of us the sacrifice of any part of this experience, in consideration of some interest into which we cannot enter, or some abstract theory we have not identified with ourselves, or what is only conventional, has no real claim upon us.
WALTER PATER
Conclusion, The Renaissance
Facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts do not go away while scientists debate rival theories for explaining them.
STEPHEN JAY GOULD
"Evolution as Fact and Theory", Discover Magazine, May 1981
The theory that can absorb the greatest number of facts, and persists in doing so, generation after generation, through all the changes of opinion and of detail, is the one that must rule all observation.
JOHN WEISS
attributed, Day's Collacon
Professors of theory merely hold post-mortems.
STEPHEN LEACOCK
Last Leaves
To ensure the adoration of a theorem for any length of time, faith is not enough, a police force is needed as well.
ALBERT CAMUS
The Rebel
Intuitive theories are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they allow us to make sense of phenomena we might otherwise find perplexing: sinking, floating, burning, freezing, growing, dying. On the other hand, they prevent us from learning more accurate theories of the world, blinding us to counter-evidence and counter-instruction.
ANDREW SHTULMAN
"In Public Understanding Of Science, Alternative Facts Are The Norm", NPR, May 29, 2017
The world can doubtless never be well known by theory: practice is absolutely necessary; but surely it is of great use to a young man, before he sets out for that country, full of mazes, windings, and turnings, to have at least a general map of it, made by some experienced traveller.
LORD CHESTERFIELD
The Letters of the Earl of Chesterfield to His Son
Material force can only be overthrown by material force, but theory itself becomes a material force when it has seized the masses. Theory is capable of seizing the masses when it demonstrates ad hominem, and it demonstrates ad hominem as soon as it becomes radical. To be radical is to grasp things by the root. But for man the root is man himself.
KARL MARX
Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right
You can never prove that a theory is correct -- you can only prove it wrong.
SALVATORE VITALE
"Physicists Just Spotted Gravitational Waves Again, So What's Next?", Gizmodo, June 3, 2017
Theory is the fruit of reflection.
GEORGE CRABB
English Synonyms Explained
A scientific theory is an accumulated body of knowledge constructed to describe specific natural phenomena, such as the force of gravity or biodiversity, that has been vetted by the scientific community. It is the best that we can come up with to make sense of nature at a given time.
MARCELO GLEISER
"Why Is 'Theory' Such A Confusing Word?", NPR, March 23, 2016
The pull of conspiracy theories can be strong: when an unexpected and tragic event occurs, especially one that crosses lines most of us would have never imagined could be crossed, believing that someone, somewhere, is pulling the strings for some greater purpose (even a nefarious one) can bring some psychological relief. The world isn't random; instead, it's run by shadowy figures with their own best interests at heart.
JULIA EDDINGTON
"3 of the Most Compelling Car Conspiracy Theories", The Zebra, May 22, 2017
It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single datum of experience.
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Herbert Spencer lecture delivered at Oxford, June 10, 1933
The field of experience is the whole universe in all directions. Theory remains shut up within the limits of human faculties.
JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
The Maxims and Reflections of Goethe
There never comes a point where a theory can be said to be true. The most that one can claim for any theory is that it has shared the successes of all its rivals and that it has passed at least one test which they have failed.
A. J. AYER
Philosophy in the Twentieth Century
Conspiracy theories are part of our nation's fabric: Americans have always had the sneaking suspicion that somebody was out to get us.
JULIA EDDINGTON
"3 of the Most Compelling Car Conspiracy Theories", The Zebra, May 22, 2017