Atheism Quote by C. S. Lewis
“A universe whose only claim to be believed in rests on the validity of inference must not start telling us the inference is invalid.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Abolition of Man, 1943
If a belief system relies solely on inference, it cannot claim its own validity without circular reasoning.
In simple terms: Reliance on inference alone is self‑defeating.
Key Takeaway
Question the foundations of your logical claims.
Themes
philosophy
critical thinking
epistemology
logic
skepticism
Mood
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- scientific research
- policy making
- ethical deliberation
- personal belief assessment
Key Concepts
foundationalism
inference
circular reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- What assumptions underlie your conclusions?
- When should intuition complement inference?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on inference can ignore experiential knowledge.
![“[One's] inability to invalidate your hypothesis is not at all the same thing as proving it true.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cfb/carl-sagan-160_hypothesis_one-s-inability-to-invalidate-your-hypot_1619200.jpg)
