The Function of Experiment

Abstract

IN continuing to maintain that stringent experimental test of a theory of Nature is pedantic, Mr. Whitrow would appear to be more extreme in his views than are most of the contributors to the symposium on physical science and philosophy¹. Prof. Milne, for example, states that “the relevance of the theorems to Nature would require to be established by observation”². When Mr. Whitrow persists in claiming the support of Galileo³ on the grounds of his (Galileo's) profession of readiness to accept his own theories⁴, he displays an imperfect understanding of the nature of experimental demonstration.