Oh, I agree 100% that “the empirical data should serve to let us refine and enhance our theories, not to displace them”. That is how science works in general. My beef is with focusing mostly on theory because “we only have one shot”. My point is “if you think you only have one shot, figure out how to get more shots”.
I don’t think we only have one shot in the mainline (I expect slow takeoff). I think theory is especially valuable if we only have one (or a few) shots.
Oh, I agree 100% that “the empirical data should serve to let us refine and enhance our theories, not to displace them”. That is how science works in general. My beef is with focusing mostly on theory because “we only have one shot”. My point is “if you think you only have one shot, figure out how to get more shots”.
I don’t think we only have one shot in the mainline (I expect slow takeoff). I think theory is especially valuable if we only have one (or a few) shots.
I should edit the OP to make that clear.