With the idol of certainty (including that of degrees of…
““With the idol of certainty (including that of degrees of imperfect certainty or probability) there falls one of the defences of obscurantism which bar the way of scientific advance. For the worship of this idol hampers not only the boldness of our questions, but also the rigour and the integrity of our tests. The wrong view of science betrays itself in the craving to be right; for it is not his possession of knowledge, of irrefutable truth, that makes the man of science, but his persistent and recklessly critical quest for truth.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Overconfidence in certainty hinders scientific progress; true science thrives on critical, questioning pursuit of truth.
In simple terms: Certainty blocks scientific advancement; embrace critical inquiry.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate skeptical, open‑minded research.
Themes
science
certainty
critical thinking
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- research design
- peer review
- theoretical work
Key Concepts
philosophy of science
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance confidence and doubt?
- What safeguards prevent obscurantism?
A Different Perspective
Some certainty is needed to form hypotheses.