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Scientists frequently have to make assumptions in order to make progress. Famous example is Darwin figured out that traits are inheritable by natural selection
by tantalor 2y ago
Scientists frequently have to make assumptions in order to make progress.
Famous example is Darwin figured out that traits are inheritable by natural selection, and this is the driving force of evolution, without having any concept of the physical nature of DNA, or how genes could change (eg. by DNA mutation) to develop adaptations and thus make an organism more fit.
- kccqzy 2y agoThis is why I guess I was never really interested in scientific experiments personally and decided to study mathematics. These assumptions don't seem justified to me. At least in mathematics you always state these assumptions or hypotheses very clearly, or make them into axioms.
- tantalor 2y agoI don't know if anybody challenged Darwin on that point. It's an interesting question. The simplest explanation is that he deduced such a physical mechanism must exist but the science and technology available at the time could not locate it.