My Design in this Book is not to explain the Properties of Light by Hypotheses, but to propose and prove them by Reason and Experiments: In order to which, I shall premise the following Definitions and Axioms.
Interpretation
Isaac Newton emphasizes the importance of using reason and experiments over mere speculation in understanding the properties of light.
In this quote, Isaac Newton articulates his scientific approach to understanding light, highlighting that the true nature of scientific inquiry relies on empirical evidence and logical reasoning rather than unfounded theories or hypotheses. He sets a foundation for his work by stating that he will establish definitions and principles that will guide his exploration, thereby underlining the importance of a structured methodology in the scientific process.
In practice
During a science seminar discussing the fundamentals of experimental physics.
The best and safest way of philosophising seems to be, first to enquire diligently into the properties of things, and to establish those properties by experiences [experiments] and then to proceed slowly to hypotheses for the explanation of them. For hypotheses should be employed only in explaining the properties of things, but not assumed in determining them; unless so far as they may furnish experiments.
Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest friend is truth.
His epitaph: Who, by vigor of mind almost divine, the motions and figures of the planets, the paths of comets, and the tides of the seas first demonstrated.
And from true lordship it follows that the true God is living, intelligent, and powerful; from the other perfections, that he is supreme, or supremely perfect. He is eternal and infinite, omnipotent and omniscient; that is, he endures from eternity to eternity; and he is present from infinity to infinity; he rules all things, and he knows all things that happen or can happen.
It is the weight, not numbers of experiments that is to be regarded.
Poetry is a kind of ingenious nonsense.
The goal is to learn more about telomere length and other markers of ageing, how best to measure these markers, how they are related to health and lifestyle, and how people respond to learning their own telomere length results.
A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong
You stop planetary exploration, those people who do that extraordinary work are going to have to go do something else.
Sci-fi has never really been my bag. But I do believe in a lot of weird things these days, such as synchronicity. Quantum physics suggests it's possible, so why not?
It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can, to keep trying even if we cannot, and to be enchanted by the act of learning all the way.
If we're going to go farther from Earth, to Mars or somewhere else someday, we have to have a good understanding of the psychological impact on people. And not only psychologically, but how it affects their cognition. We're doing a lot of research on my cognitive abilities.
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