"Conditions are admittedly such that we can always manage to make do in each concrete individual case without the two different aspects leading to different expectations as to the result of certain experiments. We cannot, however, manage to make do with such old, familiar, and seemingly indispensable terms as "real" or "only possible"; we are never in a position to say what really is or what really happens, but we can only say what will be observed in any concrete individual case. Will we have to be permanently satisfied with this...? On principle, yes. On principle, there is nothing new in the postulate that in the end exact science should aim at nothing more than the description of what can really be observed. The question is only whether from now on we shall have to refrain from tying description to a clear hypothesis about the real nature of the world. There are many who wish to pronounce such abdication even today. But I believe that this means making things a little too easy for oneself."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Erwin Schrödinger, "The Fundamental Idea of Wave Mechanics", Nobel lecture, (12 December 1933)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Exact_science
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Exact science
16 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Exact science →
Related Quotes
"Economics is not an exact science."
"The subjective element in geological studies accounts for two characteristic types that can be distinguished among ge…"
"Politics is not an exact science."
"Founder of exact modern science though he was, Kepler combined with his exact methods and indeed found his motivation…"
"Anthropology is never an exact science; the observer never experiences the same culture as the participant."
"Never mind what two tons refers to. What is it? How has it entered in so definite a way into our experience? Two tons…"
"The whole subject-matter of exact science consists of pointer readings and similar indications."
"Whatever Hitler may ultimately prove to be, we know what Hitlerism has come to mean, It means naked, ruthless force r…"
"The invention of logarithms and the calculation of the earlier tables form a very striking episode in the history of …"
"Logic is not only an exact science, but is the most simple and elementary of all sciences; it ought therefore undoubt…"