---
title: "3 Leonard Lawlor Quotes - Famous Philosopher"
description: "American philosopher... | Leonard \"Len\" Lawlor is an American philosopher who is Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy at Pennsylvania State Univers..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/leonard-lawlor-84140_negative_here-s-a-philosophical-rule-of-thumb-alw_1089594.jpg"
---

# Leonard Lawlor

(1954)   Philosopher

 **3** quotes in **28** categories

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Leonard Lawlor is a philosopher.

## Quick Facts About Leonard Lawlor

Born November 2, 1954

Profession Philosopher

## About Leonard Lawlor

American philosopher... \| Leonard "Len" Lawlor is an American philosopher who is Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy at Pennsylvania State University. He specializes in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Continental philosophy.

##  Quotes by Leonard Lawlor

> [Here's a philosophical rule of thumb: always start with the negative definitions. Negative definitions are always easier to understand. So, here's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-lawlor/here-s-a-philosophical-rule-of-thumb-always-start-with-the-negative/)

Leonard Lawlor

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/594/leonard-lawlor-84140_negative_here-s-a-philosophical-rule-of-thumb-alw_1089594.jpg)

> [When we follow the reversal of normal experience, we find ourselves in an unusual, nearly mad experience. Being in an almost mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-lawlor/when-we-follow-the-reversal-of-normal-experience-we-find-ourselves-in/)

Leonard Lawlor

[Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c68/leonard-lawlor-84140_belief_when-we-follow-the-reversal-of-normal-ex_2028662.jpg)

> [The religious training inspired in me a desire for learning. In fact, I am immensely grateful for my Catholic education for instilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-lawlor/the-religious-training-inspired-in-me-a-desire-for-learning-in-fact-i/)

Leonard Lawlor

[Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f35/leonard-lawlor-84140_catholic_the-religious-training-inspired-in-me-a_3006343.jpg)

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                        "text": "Here's a philosophical rule of thumb: always start with the negative definitions. Negative definitions are always easier to understand. So, here's a negative definition. We must not conceive difference in terms of the differences we find between things that already exist. Difference is not empirical differences.",
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                        "text": "When we follow the reversal of normal experience, we find ourselves in an unusual, nearly mad experience. Being in an almost mad experience is not something we should fear: only in such experience are we jarred out of our common sense opinions and beliefs. It opens our minds to other ideas and thought. It makes us think.",
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                        "text": "The religious training inspired in me a desire for learning. In fact, I am immensely grateful for my Catholic education for instilling in me a desire for learning. However, the Catholic training also gave me a desire for questioning. The desire to question led me eventually to distance myself from the Catholic institution and its dogma.",
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