Assuming Quote by Alfred North Whitehead
“There will be some fundamental assumptions which adherents of all the variant systems within the epoch unconsciously presuppose. Such assumptions appear so obvious that people do not know what they are assuming because no other way of putting things has ever occurred to them. With these assumptions a certain limited number of types of philosophic systems are possible, and this group of systems constitutes the philosophy of the epoch.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Process and Reality, Alfred North Whitehead, 1929
Philosophical frameworks are shaped by unexamined, seemingly obvious assumptions that limit possible systems.
In simple terms: Hidden assumptions shape philosophical possibilities.
Key Takeaway
Question underlying assumptions to broaden thinking.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
critical thinking
history of ideas
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
theoretical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching
- public discourse
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
assumption analysis
conceptual limits
paradigm shifts
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions do you take for granted?
- How might alternative assumptions change your worldview?
A Different Perspective
Challenging deep-rooted assumptions can be unsettling and meet resistance.
