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Never say, and never take seriously anyone who says, 'I…

“Never say, and never take seriously anyone who says, 'I cannot believe that so-and-so could have evolved by gradual selection.' I have dubbed this kind of fallacy 'the Argument from Personal Incredulity.' Time and again, it has proven the prelude to an intellectual banana-skin experience.” quote by Richard Dawkins
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“Never say, and never take seriously anyone who says, 'I cannot believe that so-and-so could have evolved by gradual selection.' I have dubbed this kind of fallacy 'the Argument from Personal Incredulity.' Time and again, it has proven the prelude to an intellectual banana-skin experience.”

Richard Dawkins

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Argument from Personal Incredulity dismisses evolution when it seems implausible, a logical fallacy that hinders scientific understanding.

In simple terms: Dismiss ideas because they seem unbelievable.

Key Takeaway

Challenge personal bias with evidence.

Themes

science logic fallacy

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

  • education
  • debates
  • public discourse

Key Concepts

cognitive bias argumentation

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we reject complex explanations?
  • How can we recognize this bias?
A Different Perspective

People may cling to intuition over data.

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