We ought not to believe those who today, adopting a…
“We ought not to believe those who today, adopting a philosophical air and with a tone of superiority, prophesy the decline of culter and are content with the unknowable in a self-satisfied way. For us there is no unknowable, and in my opinion there is also non whatsoever for the natural sciences. In place of this foolish unknowable, let our watchword on the contrary be: we must know - we shall know.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Hilbert argues that scientific progress requires confidence in human reason and rejects the notion of unknowable limits in natural science.
In simple terms: Science must be pursued with confidence, not resigned to mystery.
Key Takeaway
Embrace inquiry, reject fatalism.
Themes
science
philosophy
confidence
humanism
Mood
determined
optimistic
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research labs
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
epistemology
rationalism
positivism
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits, if any, should we accept in scientific inquiry?
- How does confidence affect research outcomes?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all phenomena are ultimately knowable, which may overlook unknown unknowns.