nuts-and-bolts work of figuring out the nature

English translation: basic work required as a framework for everything else

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:nuts-and-bolts work of figuring out the nature
Selected answer:basic work required as a framework for everything else

06:13 May 14, 2014
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2014-05-17 07:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Journalism
English term or phrase: nuts-and-bolts work of figuring out the nature
There's a spat brewing between some theoretical physicists and philosophers of science recently, and NPR's Adam Frank has all the details. It started when one philosopher of science, David Albert, questioned the notion that the universe came "from nothing," as the title of Laurence Krauss' new book claims. This quickly escalated into a debate over whether philosophy of science was even a worthwhile endeavor, or just a distraction from the hard, nuts-and-bolts work of figuring out the nature of the universe
Iberi (X)
basic work required as a framework for everything else
Explanation:
Nuts-and-bolts work is the basic/fundamental work that holds everything else in the way of theoretical superstructure together. It has to be performed systematically and meticulously.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 17:26
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +4basic work required as a framework for everything else
B D Finch
5 +1practical work of understanding the essence
Ing. Petr Bajer
4 +1see explanation
Terry Richards
4work that directly addresses the task of understanding the nature of the universe
Piyush Ojha


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
practical work of understanding the essence


Explanation:
basic, daily work of trying to discover the principles of the universe

Ing. Petr Bajer
Czech Republic
Local time: 17:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  MPGS: :)
30 mins
  -> Thanks!

neutral  writeaway: nuts and bolts means basics, not practical work or daily work. 100% confidence is OTT imo
1 hr
  -> OK, thanks.

neutral  B D Finch: Agree with writeaway's comment.
1 hr
  -> OK, thanks.
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
see explanation


Explanation:
I think you are parsing it wrong, the phrase doesn't make any sense without "of the universe" at the end.

It just means the practical, detailed work of understanding how the universe works from the physical evidence rather than just thinking up ways that it might work.

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 17:26
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: imo, nut-and-bolts of something refers to basics
1 hr

agree  Helena Chavarria: Piecing together the factors of the universe.
1 hr

neutral  B D Finch: On the contrary, "nuts-and-bolts work" makes sense on its own.//That would be two terms: "1) nuts-and-bolts work, 2) of figuring out the nature of the universe".
1 hr
  -> Yes, it was the "of figuring out the nature" that I was referring to.
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
basic work required as a framework for everything else


Explanation:
Nuts-and-bolts work is the basic/fundamental work that holds everything else in the way of theoretical superstructure together. It has to be performed systematically and meticulously.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 17:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yvonne Gallagher
55 mins
  -> Thanks Gallagy

agree  David Moore (X)
1 hr
  -> Thanks David

agree  Natalia Volkova
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Natalia

agree  katsy
13 hrs
  -> Thanks katsy
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
work that directly addresses the task of understanding the nature of the universe


Explanation:
This is to be contrasted with philosophy of science which contributes indirectly by elucidating the nature of science and the scientific method.

Piyush Ojha
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:26
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in HindiHindi
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