The practice of doing science in an ad hoc manner—developing hypotheses for specific cases, testing solutions in particular contexts, building theories that explain
local phenomena without claiming universality. Ad hoc science is what happens when you can't wait for general theories, when you
need answers now, when the situation demands action before understanding. It's the science of emergency rooms, of startup pivots, of parenting—contexts where general principles
help but specific solutions are needed. Ad hoc science is not inferior; it's just different. It's science for the real
world, where most problems are
local and most solutions are temporary.
Example: "She practiced ad hoc science in her garden, trying different combinations of plants, soil, water, and
sun until something worked. She didn't develop
general principles; she just found what worked here, in this
plot, this year. Next year, she'd start over. Ad hoc science wasn't publishable, but it grew vegetables."