Amount Quote by David Berlinski
“An axiomatic system comprises axioms and theorems and requires a certain amount of hand-eye coordination before it works. A formal system comprises an explicit list of symbols, an explicit set of rules governing their cohabitation, an explicit list of axioms, and, above all, an explicit list of rules explicitly governing the steps that the mathematician may take in going from assumptions to conclusions. No appeal to meaning nor to intuition. Symbols lose their referential powers; inferences become mechanical.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Devil's Delusion, 2016
A formal logical system is built from explicit symbols and rules, removing meaning and intuition, making reasoning purely mechanical.
In simple terms: Logic can be made completely rule‑based, without meaning.
Key Takeaway
Focus on clear definitions and procedures.
Themes
logic
formal systems
mathematics
mechanical reasoning
Mood
analytical
detached
Type
philosophical
technical
When to use this quote
- teaching logic
- building proof systems
- software verification
- philosophical analysis
Key Concepts
axioms
theorems
symbolic manipulation
rule‑based inference
Questions to Reflect On
- How does removing meaning affect understanding?
- When is intuition necessary in reasoning?
A Different Perspective
May ignore human intuition and creativity.
![“Whatever the degree to which Darwin may have “misled science into a dead end,” the biologist Shi V. Liu observed in commenting on Koonin’s paper, “we may still appreciate the role of Darwin in helping scientists [win an] upper hand in fighting against the creationists.” quote by David Berlinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0de/david-berlinski-16009_dead-end_whatever-the-degree-to-which-darwin-may_342124.jpg)
