"Whether that coherence obtains universally is a question that need not be answered here since only those parts where the coherence has actually been found become part of Science"
- Wilhelm Ostwald
About this Quote
This quote by Wilhelm Ostwald is referring to the concept of coherence in science. Coherence is the idea that all parts of a clinical theory need to fit together logically and follow each other. Ostwald is recommending that it is not necessary to address the question of whether this coherence is universal, as only those parts of a clinical theory that have actually been discovered to be coherent will become part of science. In other words, only those parts of a scientific theory that have been checked and found to be constant with each other will be accepted as part of the clinical understanding. This quote emphasizes the importance of screening clinical theories and ideas to ensure that they are consistent and rational before they can be accepted as part of science.