I think of sense, and of thoughts built on sense, as…
““I think of sense, and of thoughts built on sense, as windows, not as prison bars. I think that we can, however imperfectly, mirror the world, like Leibnitz’s monads; and I think it is the duty of the philosopher to make himself as undistorting a mirror as he can. But it is also his duty to recognize such distortions as are inevitable from our very nature. Of these, the most fundamental is that we view the world from the point of view of the here and now, not with that large impartiality which theists attribute to the Deity. To achieve such impartiality is impossible for us, but we can travel a certain distance towards it. To show the road to this end is the supreme duty of the philosopher.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Philosophers should strive to reflect reality accurately, acknowledging human bias and limited perspective.
In simple terms: Seek truth, aware of bias.
Key Takeaway
Pursue impartial understanding while recognizing limits.
Themes
philosophy
truth
human nature
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- personal reflection
- ethical reasoning
Key Concepts
perception
bias
objectivity
Leibniz
monads
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we reduce personal bias?
- What practices foster clearer thinking?
A Different Perspective
Absolute impartiality is unattainable for humans.