The imposing edifice of science provides a challenging view of what can be achieved by the accumulation of many small efforts in a steady objective and dedicated search for truth.
Charles H. TownesRead
Science has faith. We make postulates. We can't prove those postulates, but we have faith in them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that science relies on fundamental assumptions that cannot be proven but are accepted based on faith.
Charles H. Townes highlights the underlying faith that scientists must have in their foundational assumptions or postulates. Even though these postulates cannot be conclusively proven, they serve as the bedrock upon which scientific inquiry and discovery are built. This indicates that science is not purely about proof but also about belief in the principles that guide exploration and understanding.
Themes
ScienceFaithPostulatesBeliefUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a science class discussing the foundations of scientific law.
More from Charles H. Townes
All quotes βI don't think that science is complete at all. We don't understand everything, and one can see, within science itself, there are many inconsistencies. We just have to accept that we don't understand.
Charles H. TownesRead
One of the things my family taught me - I think very important in religion and science - is that you must be ready to stand up for what you think. Decide what you really think is best, and stick with it.
Charles H. TownesRead
I knew I wanted to be a scientist. Which kind of scientist was the question.
Charles H. TownesRead
The development of science is basically a social phenomenon, dependent on hard work and mutual support of many scientists and on the societies in which they live.
Charles H. TownesRead
It was strange, in a way, because there were no ideas involved in the laser that weren't already known by somebody 25 years before lasers were discovered. The ideas were all there; just, nobody put it together.
Charles H. TownesRead
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