Nomological dangler (pl. n.)

Any unexplained or mysterious phenomenon that is not sufficiently accounted for by the theory at hand, such as the apparent properties of the mind by the physical behaviour of the brain.

The phrase was first used by Ludwig Wittgenstein who was once overheard as saying ‘Ha ha! Now I've got you by the nomological danglers!’ while talking to a friend late one night in the pub. It should be noted that during the latter part of his life, Ludwig Wittgenstein did not have many friends, as he had a well documented habit of beating them into submission with a metal poker.

Posted on Tuesday - May 17, 2005 at 09:19 AM

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Nomological dangler (pl. n.)

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