Metaphysics is… at the root of all other sciences, which…
““Metaphysics is… at the root of all other sciences, which indeed presuppose it. It has been abandoned by the modern mind, which seems to be unable to think otherwise than with its imagination. What cannot be imagined is—according to it—impossible; what can be imagined is, therefore, capable of being and existence. From this disease of the mind, we get sentiment in place of principle in morals, the particular in place of the general in argument, metaphor in place of reality, opinion in place of certainty, prejudice in place of judgment, quantity in place of quality, matter in place of the ultimate reality, and all the whole host of false coins that are current in the intellectual commerce of today.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Metaphysics underpins all sciences, yet modern thought often replaces principle with sentiment, leading to flawed reasoning.
In simple terms: Metaphysics is foundational, but modern thought replaces it with sentiment.
Key Takeaway
Re‑engage with foundational principles.
Themes
philosophy
science
metaphysics
reasoning
truth
Mood
critical
introspective
Type
existence:1
metaphysics:1
philosophy:1
psychology:0
imagination imagined:0
metaphysics root:0
mind sentiment:0
imagined according:0
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- public discourse
- personal study
Key Concepts
epistemology
critical thinking
intellectual history
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance imagination with reason?
A Different Perspective
Is sentiment always detrimental?