pnrjulius comments on Mysterious Answers to Mysterious Questions - Less Wrong
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What would you have had these biologists use instead? Would you prefer they had no model? It seems clear to me, though I may be wrong, that these scientists had a model (elan vital), and when later evidence came along (modern biology?), they discarded it in favor of a different model. Would you have them instead have picked a different model in the first place? Or have no model at all?
Having no model can be good, if it inspires you to search for a good model. Far worse to think you have a model when you actually don't.