In art, truth is a means to an end; in science, it is the only end.
William WhewellRead
It is a test of true theories not only to account for but to predict phenomena.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True theories not only explain existing phenomena but also enable predictions about future events.
William Whewell emphasizes that the essence of a true scientific theory lies in its ability to not only provide explanations for observed phenomena but also to predict future occurrences based on those explanations. This principle highlights the critical role of predictive capability in validating scientific theories, implying that a robust theory should be able to forecast results that have yet to be observed.
Themes
TheoryPredictionSciencePhenomenaExplanation
In practice
Example use cases
In a scientific presentation, one might quote Whewell to stress the importance of predictive power in experimental design.
More from William Whewell
All quotes →The object of science is knowledge; the objects of art are works. In art, truth is the means to an end; in science, it is the only end. Hence the practical arts are not to be classed among the sciences
William WhewellRead
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