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R. B. Braithwaite
(15 Jan 1900 - 21 Apr 1990)
English philosopher.
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Science Quotes by R. B. Braithwaite (1 quote)
It has been a fortunate fact in the modern history of physical science that the scientist constructing a new theoretical system has nearly always found that the mathematics he required for his system had already been worked out by pure mathematicians for their own amusement. … The moral for statesmen would seem to be that, for proper scientific “planning”, pure mathematics should be endowed fifty years ahead of scientists.
— R. B. Braithwaite
In 'Scientific Deductive Systems and Their Representations', Scientific Explanation: A Study of the Function of Theory, Probability and Law in Science (1968), 48-49. This book is elaborated and developed from his series of Tarner lectures (Lent 1946).
See also:
- 15 Jan - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Braithwaite's birth.
- Scientific Explanation: A Study of the Function of Theory, Probability and Law in Science, by R.B. Braithwaite. - book suggestion.
In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.
(1987) -- 
