Bodies do not produce sensations, but complexes of elements (complexes of sensations) make up bodies.
Ernst MachRead
It would not become physical science to see in its self created, changeable, economical tools, molecules and atoms, realities behind phenomena... The atom must remain a tool for representing phenomena.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes that atoms and molecules are merely concepts used to understand phenomena rather than ultimate realities.
Ernst Mach highlights the philosophical perspective that the tools of science, such as atoms and molecules, are constructs that help us interpret the observable world. He argues that these concepts should not be confused with the deeper realities they aim to represent, suggesting that scientific tools are fundamentally changeable and serve as frameworks for understanding phenomena rather than definitive truths.
Themes
ScienceAtomsPhilosophyPhenomenaReality
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the nature of scientific theories in a classroom setting.
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All quotes βStrange as it may sound, the power of mathematics rests on its evasion of all unnecessary thought and on its wonderful saving of mental operations.
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