Page:Eddington A. Space Time and Gravitation. 1920.djvu/45

I] and we shall not hesitate to draw reasonable conclusions as well as absolutely proved conclusions from the knowledge available. But to those who think that the relativity theory is a passing phase of scientific thought, which may be reversed in the light of future experimental discoveries, we would point out that, though like other theories it may be developed and corrected, there is a certain minimum statement possible which represents irreversible progress. Certain hypotheses enter into all physical descriptions and theories hitherto current, dating back in some cases for 2000 years, in other cases for 200 years. It can now be proved that these hypotheses have nothing to do with any phenomena yet observed, and do not afford explanations of any known fact. This is surely a discovery of the greatest importance—quite apart from any question as to whether the hypotheses are actually wrong.

I am not satisfied with the view so often expressed that the sole aim of scientific theory is "economy of thought." I cannot reject the hope that theory is by slow stages leading us nearer to the truth of things. But unless science is to degenerate into idle guessing, the test of value of any theory must be whether it expresses with as little redundancy as possible the facts which it is intended to cover. Accidental truth of a conclusion is no compensation for erroneous deduction.

The relativity standpoint is then a discarding of certain hypotheses, which are uncalled for by any known facts, and stand in the way of an understanding of the simplicity of nature.