In scientific thought we adopt the simplest theory which will explain all the facts under consideration and enable us to predict new facts of the same kind. The catch in this criterion lies in the world simplest. It is really an aesthetic canon such as we find implicit in our criticisms of poetry or painting. The layman finds such a law as dx/dt = K(d^2x/dy^2) much less simple than it oozes of which it is the mathematical statement. The physicist reverses this judgment and his statement is certainly the more fruitful of the two so far as prediction is concerned. It is however a statement about something very unfamiliar to the plain man namely the rate of change of a rate of change.
We all agree that your theory is crazy but is it crazy enough?
An old young man will be a young old man.
Many things difficult to design prove easy to performance.
Every high C accurately struck demolishes the theory that we are the irresponsible puppets of fate or chance.
Your theory is crazy but its not crazy enough to be true.
A little experience often upsets a lot of theory.
It is a condition which confronts us not a theory.
In scientific thought we adopt the simplest theory which will explain all the facts under consideration and enable us to predict new facts of the same kind. The catch in this criterion lies in the world simplest. It is really an aesthetic canon such as we find implicit in our criticisms of poetry or painting. The layman finds such a law as dx/dt = K(d^2x/dy^2) much less simple than it oozes of which it is the mathematical statement. The physicist reverses this judgment and his statement is certainly the more fruitful of the two so far as prediction is concerned. It is however a statement about something very unfamiliar to the plain man namely the rate of change of a rate of change.
There is nothing so practical as a good theory.
There is a mask of theory over the whole face of nature.