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Any physical theory is always provisional, in the sense that it is only a hypothesis: you can never prove it. No matter how many times the results of experiments agree with some theory, you can never be sure that the next time the result will not contradict the theory.
Stephen Hawking
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Scientific theories are never definitive and remain as hypotheses subject to change based on new evidence.

Stephen Hawking's quote emphasizes the provisional nature of scientific theories, highlighting that no matter how often experimental results align with a particular theory, they can never be fully proven. This underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of scientific understanding, where new evidence could always emerge to challenge established notions.

Themes

ScienceTheoryHypothesisEvidenceExperimentation

In practice

Example use cases

In a classroom discussion about the scientific method, this quote can highlight the importance of questioning and revising theories.

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