Skip to main content

What It's Good At

  • Chapter
Ice, Rock, and Beauty
  • 771 Accesses

Science predicts. A scientific idea lives or dies by doing so. Predictions that turn out to be wrong suggest false principles – and only the best ideas survive. The result is knowledge that is reliable, but not absolutely infallible. It stands ready to be falsified by new observations, by newly failed predictions. It is knowledge, not dogma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

(2008). What It's Good At. In: Ice, Rock, and Beauty. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73103-2_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics