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T. H. Huxley’s formulation was The foundation of morality…

“T. H. Huxley’s formulation was The foundation of morality is to … give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibilities of knowledge.” quote by Carl Sagan
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““T. H. Huxley’s formulation was The foundation of morality is to … give up pretending to believe that for which there is no evidence, and repeating unintelligible propositions about things beyond the possibilities of knowledge.””

Carl Sagan

About This Quote

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

Morality requires abandoning unfounded beliefs and avoiding nonsense about unknowable things.

In simple terms: Reject unsupported beliefs for moral clarity.

Key Takeaway

Base morals on evidence.

Themes

morality skepticism knowledge nullism critical thinking

Mood

thoughtful skeptical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • religious doctrine
  • political rhetoric
  • personal convictions

Key Concepts

philosophy science ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • Can morality exist without evidence?
  • How do you handle deeply held unprovable beliefs?
A Different Perspective

Some moral systems rely on faith, not evidence.

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