Wolfgang Pietsch - On the Epistemology of Data Science: Conceptual Tools for a New Inductivism (Philosophical Studies Series, 148)

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While the thoughts of mankind have on many subjects worked themselves practically right, the thinking power remains as weak as ever; and on all subjects on which the facts which would check the result are not accessible, as in what relates to the invisible world, and even, as has been seen lately, to the visible world of the planetary regions, men of the greatest scientific acquirements argue as pitiably as the merest ignoramus. For though they have made many sound inductions, they have not learnt from them (and Dr. Whewell thinks there is no necessity that they should learn) the principles of inductive evidence.

(Mill 1886, 284)

After more than two thousand years of Western science, which more than any other human enterprise has enabled modern civilization with its profound knowledge of nature and impressive technological achievements, one might think that the methodological basis which ultimately is responsible for these successes should be fairly well established and understood. Surprisingly, this is not the case. Few areas in science are more controversial than the foundations of scientific methodology. Worse still, where consensus emerges, it often seems to result from shared opinions and superficial beliefs rather than from sound arguments and precise conceptual analysis. While humans are quite successful at solving practical problems, the human mind does not appear to be particularly suited for reflecting on the principles of its own working.