Full Idea
Science represents our best systematic understanding of the world, and if a certain notion proves unneeded in our best attempt at that, this provides strong evidence that what this notion concerns is not ontologically basic.
Gist of Idea
If a notion is ontologically basic, it should be needed in our best attempt at science
Source
Jonathan Schaffer (Causation and Laws of Nature [2008], 3.2)
Book Reference
'Contemporary Debates in Metaphysics', ed/tr. Sider/Hawthorne/Zimmerman [Blackwell 2008], p.92
A Reaction
But is the objective of science to find out what is 'ontologically basic'? If scientists can't get a purchase on a question, they have no interest in it. What are electrons made of?