"I believe without exception that theory follows practice. Whenever there is a conflict between theory and practice, theory is wrong. As far as I'm concerned, we make theories for what people have done"

David Baker's quote challenges the conventional wisdom by asserting that practice, rather than theory, leads the way in understanding and development. His statement suggests a pragmatic perspective, suggesting that real-world application and experience usually supply more trustworthy guidance than theoretical constructs.

The expression "theory follows practice" suggests that theories are formulations produced to discuss, codify, or rationalize what has actually currently been achieved or observed in practice. Baker suggests that practice-- actual doing and experimentation-- takes precedence because it provides empirical proof and insights that theories aim to encapsulate. This approach is closely aligned with a clinical technique state of mind, where observation and experimentation notify hypotheses and theories.

Baker makes a vibrant claim by suggesting that whenever theory and practice conflict, it is the theory that is flawed. This is intriguing because it questions the validity and energy of theoretical structures that are frequently considered essential in fields like science, engineering, and the social sciences. He seems to argue that theories ought to be versatile and revisable instead of stiff prescriptions, developing in response to useful truths.

Additionally, the phrase "we make theories for what individuals have done" conveys the concept that theories are retrospective by nature, emerging from a need to understand previous actions and results. It recommends that human action and innovation are not always driven by theoretical considerations at first but instead create the conditions that require theoretical understanding.

Baker's declaration can be translated as a call to remain flexible and open up to revising our theoretical structures because of practical evidence. It's a tip that innovation often emerges from action and experience instead of from preconceived notions. This view promotes an iterative relationship between practice and theory, where theories are constantly checked and modified by new practices and findings.