To come very near to a true theory, and to grasp its precise application, are two different things, as the history of science teaches us. Everything of importance has been said before by someone who did not discover it.
Alfred North WhiteheadRead
Every theory presented as a scientific concept is just that; it's a theory that tries to explain more about the world than previous theories have done. It is open to being challenged and to being proven incorrect.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Scientific theories are evolving explanations of the world, subject to change and challenge.
This quote by Marvin Harris emphasizes that scientific theories are not definitive truths but rather evolving explanations about the universe. They build upon past knowledge and are always open to scrutiny and revision as new evidence emerges, reflecting the dynamic nature of scientific inquiry.
Themes
TheoryScienceExplanationKnowledgeEvidence
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the scientific method, you might say this quote to illustrate the nature of theories.
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