"In general we look for a new law by the following process. First we guess it. Then we compute the consequences of the guess to see what would be implied if this law that we guessed is right. Then we compare the result of the computation to nature, with experiment or experience, compare it directly with observation, to see if it works. If it disagrees with experiment it is wrong. In that simple statement is the key to science. It does not make any difference how beautiful your guess is. It does not make any difference how smart you are, who made the guess, or what his name is — if it disagrees with experiment it is wrong. That is all there is to it." -- Richard Feynman
Gary Taubes has a short post up. Short compared to his books... ;)
"But common sense says...."
ReplyDeleteMy physics professors had a hard time breaking me of this statement. They did win in the end though. :)
I don't have a problem with that. If he said that if the guess matches the data then the guess is right, I'd have a problem with that. Normally these programs are used to predict the past, and then they are checked by comparing with the actual past data deduced from the geological record.
ReplyDelete