Quantum computation is a distinctively new way of harnessing nature. It will be the first technology that allows useful tasks to be performed in collaboration between parallel universes.
David DeutschRead
Where we have good, testable explanations, they then have to be tested, and we drop the ones that fail the tests.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of testing explanations to ensure their validity and reliability.
David Deutsch highlights the scientific method's core principles: the necessity of having explanations that can be rigorously tested, and the willingness to discard those that do not withstand scrutiny. This reflective process is essential for advancing knowledge and understanding the world around us.
Themes
TestingExplanationsScienceValidityKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a scientific conference, when discussing research findings, one might quote this to emphasize rigorous testing.
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Feeling insignificant because the universe is large has exactly the same logic as feeling inadequate for not being a cow.
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Discovering a new explanation is inherently an act of creativity.
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To me quantum computation is a new and deeper and better way to understand the laws of physics, and hence understanding physical reality as a whole.
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