Two criteria, followed by a theory that survives as an approximation
State explicit criteria for accepting or revising an account early, then invoke those same criteria when assessing later rival accounts and the author’s preferred explanation.
A Brief History of Time
Stephen Hawking · 112 weeksTwo criteria, followed by a theory that survives as an approximation
Hawking defines a useful scientific theory through its explanatory economy and definite predictions, then describes provisional acceptance and possible disconfirmation. The Mercury example explains why Newton’s theory can remain practically useful after Einstein improves its predictions.
The author supplies the rule before the later disputes and immediately prevents a crude true-or-worthless reading of revision.
The source in context.
Successive world pictures lead from the shape of Earth to expansion and the question of a beginning. Hawking defines what he means by a scientific theory, explains its provisional status and identifies the tension between relativity and quantum mechanics as the book’s main problem.
Open this chapterWhat this example supports
The author supplies the rule before the later disputes and immediately prevents a crude true-or-worthless reading of revision.
Its limit
This is a simplified account of scientific judgment, not an independently assessed philosophy of science.
Source & edition
Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time; supplied updated local ebook text; copyright 1988 and 1996, publishing history lists 1998 Bantam editions; eISBN 9780553896923. Includes the added chapter on wormholes and time travel.
Supplied text, lines 207–213. The description is an original editorial paraphrase, not a quotation.
The completed whole-source AI synthesis supplied candidate observations and the broad argument map. This Codex editorial pass checked original source headings, section boundaries, openings and selected argumentative contexts; inspected every retained example; checked the existing pattern dictionary and base examples; and rewrote or rejected nominations. It is a source-checked editorial pass, not a new independently adjudicated whole-book reading.
supplied updated local ebook text; copyright 1988 and 1996, publishing history lists 1998 Bantam editions; eISBN 9780553896923. Includes the added chapter on wormholes and time travel