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<Theory X> is a post hoc explanation for how <Subject Y> works. It's not like somebody came up with the theory of how <Subject Y> should work and then built one
by richk449 6y ago
<Theory X> is a post hoc explanation for how <Subject Y> works. It's not like somebody came up with the theory of how <Subject Y> should work and then built one, like you would a computer.
General relativity is a post hoc explanation for how large-scale spacetime works. It's not like somebody came up with the theory of how the universe should work and then built one, like you would a computer.
Darwinian evolution is a post hoc explanation for how life forms change over time. It's not like somebody came up with the theory of how life on earth should work and then built one, like you would a computer.
- randallsquared 6y agoThose are good analogies (if more precise and more easily testable than is typical in the social sciences), but the framing suggests you don't believe they are.
- ORioN63 6y agoI read as OP believes examples are common enough, that saying it, is the same as not saying anything at all.
- awild 6y agoThe difference being that we've already gotten past the point of thinking that Darwinian theory should dictate human lifes. A lot of political energy is invested in keepingn them the way particular theories say it ought to be based on certain economic theoretical criteria. You wouldn't kill the baby of a Tiger/Lion simply because your textbooks say it's not genetically feasible (glossing over the fact that it's simply not been observed before).