Consistency Quote by Bertrand Russell
““Noone has yet succeeded in inventing a philosophy at once credible and self-consistent. Locke aimed at credibility, and achieved it at the expense of consistency. Most of the great philosophers have done the opposite. A philosophy which is not self-consistent cannot be wholly true, but a philosophy which is self-consistent can very well be wholly false. The most fruitful philosophies have contained glaring inconsistencies, but for that very reason have been partially true. There is no reason to suppose that a self-consistent system contains more truth than one which, like Locke’s, is more or less wrong.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Problems of Philosophy" (1912)
Russell argues that consistency and credibility often conflict in philosophy; inconsistencies can yield partial truths, while consistency may hide falsehoods.
In simple terms: Philosophical truth can be inconsistent yet valuable.
Key Takeaway
Accept nuanced truth in ideas.
Themes
philosophy
truth
consistency
Mood
analytical
thought‑provoking
scholarly
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- intellectual inquiry
- theoretical development
Key Concepts
critical thinking
epistemology
logical analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance consistency with openness?
- When is inconsistency acceptable in theory?
A Different Perspective
Seeking absolute consistency may limit creative insight.
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