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Logic was, formerly, the art of drawing inferences; it has…

“Logic was, formerly, the art of drawing inferences; it has now become the art of abstaining from inferences, since it has appeared that the inferences we feel naturally inclined to make are hardly ever valid.” quote by Bertrand Russell
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““Logic was, formerly, the art of drawing inferences; it has now become the art of abstaining from inferences, since it has appeared that the inferences we feel naturally inclined to make are hardly ever valid.””

Bertrand Russell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Logic shifted from drawing conclusions to avoiding them because natural inferences are often invalid.

In simple terms: Logic now warns against trusting instinctive conclusions.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions before reasoning.

Themes

philosophy logic critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical reflective

When to use this quote

  • academic debate
  • scientific research
  • everyday decision making

Key Concepts

epistemology skepticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you verify an inference?
  • When should you trust intuition?
A Different Perspective

Logic alone cannot replace empirical evidence.

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