Science is Built on a Swamp

Science does not rest upon solid bedrock. The bold structure of its theories rises, as it were, above a swamp. It is like a building erected on piles. The piles are driven down from above into the swamp, but not down to any natural or 'given' base; and when we cease our attempts to drive our piles into a deeper layer, it is not because we have reached firm ground. We simply stop when we are satisfied that they are firm enough to carry the structure, at least for the time being.

Notes:

Standing on piles driven down into reality, but never solidly in it.

Folksonomies: science metaphor

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The Logic of Scientific Discovery

Books, Brochures, and Chapters>Book: Popper , Karl Raimund (2002-03-29), The Logic of Scientific Discovery, Psychology Press, Retrieved on 2012-06-21

Source Material [books.google.com]