In philosophy, when we make use of false principles, we…
“In philosophy, when we make use of false principles, we depart the farther from the knowledge of truth and wisdom exactly in proportion to the care with which we cultivate them, and apply ourselves to the deduction of diverse consequences from them, thinking that we are philosophizing well, while we are only departing the farther from the truth; from which it must be inferred that they who have learned the least of all that has been hitherto distinguished by the name of philosophy are the most fitted for the apprehension of truth.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Relying on false premises leads farther from truth; the less one knows, the more likely they think they understand.
In simple terms: Bad foundations ruin reasoning.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions before reasoning.
Themes
critical thinking
philosophy
epistemology
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
instructive
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- personal decision making
- debate preparation
Key Concepts
Skepticism
logic
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you accept without testing?
- How can you detect hidden false principles?
A Different Perspective
Complex ideas may be oversimplified; not all errors are obvious.