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The aim of science is to apprehend this purely…

“The aim of science is to apprehend this purely intelligible world as a thing in itself, an object which is what it is independently of all thinking, and thus antithetical to the sensible world… The world of thought is the universal, the timeless and spaceless, the absolutely necessary, whereas the…” quote by Robin G. Collingwood
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“The aim of science is to apprehend this purely intelligible world as a thing in itself, an object which is what it is independently of all thinking, and thus antithetical to the sensible world… The world of thought is the universal, the timeless and spaceless, the absolutely necessary, whereas the world of sense is the contingent, the changing and moving appearance which somehow indicates or symbolizes it.”

Robin G. Collingwood

About This Quote

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

Science seeks to grasp the objective, mind‑independent reality, contrasting it with the fleeting, sensory world.

In simple terms: Science aims at the true, unchanging reality beyond our senses.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the limits of sensory knowledge.

Themes

philosophy epistemology science metaphysics

Mood

contemplative inquisitive

Type

analytical theoretical

When to use this quote

  • research
  • education
  • theoretical physics
  • philosophical debate

Key Concepts

objectivity dualism idealism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we know what is truly independent of thought?
  • Can sensory experience ever reveal the timeless?
A Different Perspective

Sensory data can never fully capture the underlying reality.

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