ohlavache
la vache qui lit
Bio
It is necessary to say a few words about a view which is sometimes expressed, the idea that a physical theory should contain no elements which do not correspond directly to observables. This position seems to be founded on the notion that the only purpose of a theory is to serve as a summary of known data, and overlooks the second major purpose, the discovery of totally new phenomena. The major motivation of this viewpoint appears to be the desire to construct perfectly "safe" theories which will never be open to contradiction. Strict adherence to such a philosophy would probably seriously stifle the progress of physics.
- Hugh Everett III