The scientific attitude of mind involves a sweeping away…
“The scientific attitude of mind involves a sweeping away of all other desires in the interests of the desire to know-it involves suppression of hopes and fears, loves and hates, and the whole subjective emotional life, until we become subdued to the material, able to see it frankly, without preconceptions, without bias, without any wish except to see it as it is, and without any belief that what it is must be determined by some relation, positive or negative, to what we should like it to be, or to what we can easily imagine it to be.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A scientific mindset requires setting aside personal desires, emotions, and biases to observe reality objectively, seeking truth without preconceptions or personal agendas.
In simple terms: Observe reality without personal bias or desire.
Detach emotions to see facts clearly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research
- academic study
- policy analysis
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance objectivity with empathy?
- When does detachment hinder moral judgment?
May ignore valuable intuition or ethical considerations.