"Which facts are relevant and which are not relevant to a science will be relative to the current state of development of that science."

Alan Chalmers Philosophy See all quotes by Alan Chalmers →

React to this quote

More by Alan Chalmers

“Science describes not just the observable world but also the world that lies beyond the appearances. This is a rough statement of realism with respect to science.”

“A mature science is governed by a single paradigm.”

“Empiricism and positivism share the common view that scientific knowledge should in some way be derived from the facts arrived at by observation.”

“Scientists are typically good at making scientific progress, but not particularly good at articulating what the progress consists of.”

“A far as perception is concerned, the only things with which an observer has direct and immediate contact are his or her experiences.”

“Science progresses by trial and error, by conjectures and refutations. Only the fittest theories survive.”

Resonant Thoughts

"will reply that they are considering the meaning of a "thought," not of a word. A "thought" is not a social phenomenon, like speech, and therefore does not have the two sides, active and passive, whic…"

— Bertrand Russell

Philosophy1872–1970

#mind

"Western Science, in its present form, is toxic. It must be infused with love and humility, and an ethical code of honor to renounce any experiment or procedure that causes harm to the environment."

— Krishna Kant Shukla

Science1959

#science

"Scientific language, which Korzybski used as his model of sane language, is almost exclusively extensional and denotative, or at least tries to be. The language of the mentally ill, most obviously "un…"

— Neil Postman

Literature1931–2003

#writing

"Remember that this world which you covet so ardently and attempt to acquire so earnestly, and which sometimes annoys you and sometimes pleases you so much, is neither your home nor a permanent destina…"

— Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (A.S.)

Religion601–661

#time