Computing Consequences
Computing Consequences is the second stage in Feynman’s three-step scientific method. It represents the mathematical and logical work that follows an initial hypothesis and precedes empirical testing against nature. In this step, a scientist derives the testable predictions that would logically follow from their proposed theory or guess about how something works.
From Theory to Testable Predictions
Computing consequences requires translating a qualitative idea into quantitative, measurable predictions. A scientist takes their initial hypothesis and works through the mathematical and logical implications to determine what observable outcomes should occur if their theory is correct. This may involve solving equations, running simulations, or reasoning through the causal chain from proposed mechanism to expected result. The goal is to generate specific, falsifiable predictions that can be checked against experimental data.
Role in the Scientific Method
This intermediate step is essential because it bridges the gap between imaginative theorizing and empirical reality. Without computing consequences, a hypothesis remains disconnected from testable reality. The rigor of this computational stage—whether mathematical, logical, or computational—determines whether the subsequent comparison with nature will be meaningful. A theory that yields vague or untestable predictions cannot be effectively evaluated, whereas one that produces precise, quantifiable predictions can be definitively confirmed or refuted through experiment.