“A hypothetical theory is necessary, as a preliminary step, to reduce the expression of the phenomena to simplicity and order before it is possible to make any progress in framing an abstractive theory.”

— William John Macquorn Rankine

Source: "Outlines of the Science of Energetics," (1855), p. 213

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William John Macquorn Rankine 28

civil engineer 1820–1872

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