 Rowbottom here is, of course, describing theory acceptance. Insofar, though, as a theory’s acceptability is determined by the degree of the theory’s success at achieving a particular aim or aims, we can take the point to be equally about aims. We can understand, that is, the aliens as engaging in science even if they are not aiming for empirically adequate, or true, theories. In comparison to the activity itself, aims appear to be the less important thing to focus on in characterizing the activity as distinctively scientific.