“There is no science apart from the general. It may even be said that the very object of the exact sciences is to spare us these direct verifications.”

Source: Talks on Pedagogics, (1894), p. 64. Reported in Robert Edouard Moritz. Memorabilia mathematica; or, The philomath's quotation-book https://archive.org/stream/memorabiliamathe00moriiala#page/81/mode/2up, (1914), p. 263

Variant: Mayor aims of general theory: <br>(1) There is a general tendency toward integration in the various sciences, natural and social. <br>(2) Such integration seems to be centered in a general theory of systems. <br>(3) Such theory may be an important means for aiming at exact theory in the nonphysical fields of science. <br> (4) Developing unifying principles running &quot;vertically&quot; through the universe of the individual sciences, this theory brings us nearer the goal of the unity of science. <br> (5) This can lead to a much-needed integration in scientific education. <br class="br">Source: 1950s, &quot;General systems theory,&quot; 1956, p. 38, cited in: Alexander Laszlo and Stanley Krippner (1992) &quot; Systems Theories: Their Origins, Foundations, and Development http://archive.syntonyquest.org/elcTree/resourcesPDFs/SystemsTheory.pdf&quot; In: J.S. Jordan (Ed.), Systems Theories and A Priori Aspects of Perception. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science, 1998. Ch. 3, pp. 47-74.

As quoted in The Life and Science of Léon Foucault : The Man Who Proved the Earth Rotates (2003) by William Tobin, p. 72, ISBN 0521808553

Source: Value-free science?: Purity and power in modern knowledge, 1991, p. 10

Source: Thoughts Selected from the Writings of Horace Mann (1872), p. 215

Otto Neurath (1934:102), as cited in: Cartwright (2008;199)
1930s

On the advisableness of improving natural knowledge (1866) http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext01/thx1410.txt <br class="br">1860s <br class="br">Source: Collected Essays of Thomas Henry Huxley <br class="br">Context: The improver of natural knowledge absolutely refuses to acknowledge authority, as such. For him, scepticism is the highest of duties; blind faith the one unpardonable sin. And it cannot be otherwise, for every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority, the cherishing of the keenest scepticism, the annihilation of the spirit of blind faith; and the most ardent votary of science holds his firmest convictions, not because the men he most venerates hold them; not because their verity is testified by portents and wonders; but because his experience teaches him that whenever he chooses to bring these convictions into contact with their primary source, Nature — whenever he thinks fit to test them by appealing to experiment and to observation — Nature will confirm them. The man of science has learned to believe in justification, not by faith, but by verification.

Source: Nation

1950s, "General systems theory," 1956