Evolution of man Quote by C. S. Lewis
““If the solar system was brought about by an accidental collision, then the appearance of organic life on this planet was also an accident, and the whole evolution of Man was an accident too. If so, then all our present thoughts are mere accidents--the accidental by-product of the movement of atoms. And this holds for the thoughts of the materialists and astronomers as well as for anyone else's. But if their thoughts--i.e. of materialism and astronomy--are merely accidental by-products, why should we believe them to be true? I see no reason for believing that one accident should be able to give me a correct account of all the other accidents. It's like expecting that the accidental shape taken by the splash when you upset a milkjug should give you a correct account of how the jug was made and why it was upset.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Problem of Pain, 1940
If the universe and life are accidental, then our thoughts are also accidental, making belief in their truth unjustified.
In simple terms: Accidental origins undermine confidence in knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Question the foundations of belief.
Themes
epistemology
philosophy
science
faith
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
essay
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal belief formation
- scientific inquiry
- theological reflection
Key Concepts
accident
causality
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we justify knowledge?
- What role does faith play?
A Different Perspective
Accidental origins do not necessarily invalidate the reliability of reason or evidence.
![“A race or nation stands so much the higher, the more perfectly its members express the pure, ideal human type ... The evolution of man through the incarnations in ever higher national and racial forms is thus a process of liberation [leading to] an ideal future.” quote by Rudolf Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ef0/rudolf-steiner-2619_evolution_a-race-or-nation-stands-so-much-the-high_697947.jpg)
