A theoretical system does not merely state facts which have been observed and that logically deducible relations to other facts which have also been observed.
Talcott ParsonsThe implications of these considerations justify the statement that all empirically verifiable knowledge even the commonsense knowledge of everyday life - involves implicitly, if not explicitly, systematic theory in this sense.
Talcott ParsonsEmpirical interest will be in the facts so far as they are relevant to the solution of these problems.
Talcott ParsonsIf there are four equations and only three variables, and no one of the equations is derivable from the others by algebraic manipulation then there is another variable missing.
Talcott Parsons