Ideals are very often formed in the effort to escape from…
“Ideals are very often formed in the effort to escape from the hard task of dealing with facts, which is the function of science and art. There is no process by which to reach an ideal. There are no tests by which to verify it. It is therefore impossible to frame a proposition about an ideal which can be proved or disproved. It follows that the use of ideals is to be strictly limited to proper cases, and that the attempt to use ideals in social discussion does not deserve serious consideration.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage claims ideals cannot be scientifically verified, so they should be used sparingly in social discussions, as they lack testable criteria.
In simple terms: Ideals lack empirical proof, limiting their use.
Key Takeaway
Use ideals cautiously.
Themes
philosophy
science
art
social theory
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
critical
intellectual
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- policy formulation
- artistic critique
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
epistemology
ideal theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Are all ideals untestable?
- When can ideals guide action?
A Different Perspective
May dismiss valuable aspirational goals.