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Full Idea
Whenever scientists are presented with a useful pattern or system of classification, it is only a matter of time before the begin to ask whether there may be some underlying explanation for the pattern.
Gist of Idea
Scientists eventually seek underlying explanations for every pattern
Source
Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], Intro 'Evol')
Book Ref
Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.-3
A Reaction
Music to my ears, against the idea that the sole aim of science is accurately describe the patterns.