Afterlife Quote by David Hume
“Nothing is demonstrable, unless the contrary implies a contradiction. Nothing, that is distinctly conceivable, implies a contradiction. Whatever we conceive as existent, we can also conceive as non-existent. There is no being, therefore, whose non-existence implies a contradiction. Consequently there is no being, whose existence is demonstrable.”
About This Quote
Source Treatise: Human Nature, 1739
If a concept leads to a contradiction, it cannot be demonstrated; thus existence cannot be proven by contradiction alone.
In simple terms: Contradiction blocks proof of existence.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about existence.
Themes
epistemology
logic
metaphysics
Mood
inquisitive
analytical
Type
philosophical
skeptical
When to use this quote
- scientific inquiry
- philosophical debate
- legal proof
Key Concepts
contradiction
demonstrability
existence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we know something exists without contradiction?
- What alternative proofs are valid?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on contradiction may ignore other evidential methods.
