john hawks weblog

paleoanthropology, genetics and evolution

Sherlock Holmes on the nonimportance of theories

Thu, 2008-07-03 11:37 -- John Hawks

R. Ford Denison:

In A Study in Scarlet, [Holmes] expresses the opinion that it makes no practical difference whether the sun orbits the earth or vice versa. Yet, in The Musgrave Ritual, it turns out that incorrect theories make incorrect predictions.

The dialogue that ensues is classic.

Tags: 
metascience
literature

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