“A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong”
“A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong” has been credited to molecular biologist Francis Crick, but there’s no evidence that he said it. AKA Shakespeare: A Scientific Approach to the Authorship Question (2013) by Peter Surrock listed 11 “Prospero’s Precepts,” of which this was number 6.
The list of “Prospero’s Precepts” quickly became widely cited.
RE Think
Prospero’s Precepts: 11 Tools for Critical Thinking
April 1, 2013 in Education
A fantastic list of 11 rule culled from some of history’s greatest minds can serve as a general-purpose guideline for critical thinking in all matters of doubt. This list appears in AKA Shakespeare: A Scientific Approach to the Authorship Question (Peter Surrock) and is discussed in more detail at Brainpickings:
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6. A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong. (Francis Crick)
Brain Pickings/a>
April 1. 2013
Was Shakespeare Shakespeare? 11 Rules for Critical Thinking
by Maria Popova
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But perhaps best of all is the checklist of credos that underpin the analytical tool. Dubbed Prospero’s Precepts, these eleven rules culled from some of history’s greatest minds can serve as a general-purpose guideline for critical thinking in all matters of doubt:
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6. A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong. (Francis Crick)
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Awais Aftab
@awaisaftab
“A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong.” Francis Crick http://exp.lore.com/post/47381234408/1-all-beliefs-in-whatever-realm-are-theories-at …
9:43 PM - 7 Apr 13
Neuro Dojo
10 April 2013
The emergence of a fake quote?
While reading an article on Brain Pickings inspired by the question of authorship of Shakespeare’s work, I noticed this quote:
A theory should not attempt to explain all the facts, because some of the facts are wrong.
It was attributed to Francis Crick, one third of the Nobel prize winners for work on DNA structure.