"It is the 'hypothetico-deductive' method: that, namely, of setting up a hypothesis as a working tool and then tracking it down to see whether it works in experience. This means that instead of asking, 'What are the common observed characteristics of all things we call natural systems?' we ask, 'What are the characteristics any observed thing must have if it is to be considered a natural system?' We formulate the properties of natural systems in abstraction and then proceed to find out if they are actually exemplified in some observed things. The great advantage of this method is its efficiency: we may not be right, but we know what we are looking for. If we don't find it, we can always modify the hypothesis. Thus is certainly preferable to attempting to catalog anything that we come across, especially since we are likely to come across a great many things."

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