The knowledge of Natural-History, being Observation of…
“The knowledge of Natural-History, being Observation of Matters of Fact, is more certain than most others, and in my slender Opinion, less subject to Mistakes than Reasonings, Hypotheses, and Deductions are; ... These are things we are sure of, so far as our Senses are not fallible; and which, in probability, have been ever since the Creation, and will remain to the End of the World, in the same Condition we now find them.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A philosophical assertion that observable facts about natural history are more reliable than human reasoning, hypotheses, and deductions, which are fallible.
In simple terms: Observed facts outweigh speculative reasoning.
Key Takeaway
Trust empirical evidence over conjecture.
Themes
science
knowledge
observation
certainty
philosophy
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
explanatory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- scientific method
Key Concepts
epistemology
natural history
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance observation and theory?
- When are hypotheses essential?
A Different Perspective
Overlooks value of theoretical models.