¶ Assumptions
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RBF Definitions
“. . . The progress we have made is not the result of blindly proceeding from one precedent to another. Only by escaping from the popular frames of reference and critically examining the conventional methods and techniques have we set up a new hypothesis and arrived at our present solution with its prospect of a new and transcendental industry. To do this it was necessary to make broad and daring assumptions. This talk is full of them, and I have not taken time to substantiate or develop them in detail. Assumptions grow out of experience and new postulates stem from observation which reveals the inadequacies of our previous concepts. However short of the mark our answers may be, I know that our method is right, for all the great scientific advances in history have been made by the Newtons and Galileos who were not afraid to form their own hypothesis. I am saying this to you because engineers have too often let others make their assumptions for them. In the months ahead the engineering staff has a great responsibility in getting our house into production. By attempting merely to improve and modify the familiar ways of designing and building you will succeed only in perpetuating original errors and limitations. So do not be afraid of radical methods or of setting up your own hypotheses.” RBF preface to: 1946.
