Always wrong Quote by E. O. Wilson
“Without the instruments and accumulated knowledge of the natural sciences... humans are trapped in a cognitive prison. They are like intelligent fish born in a deep shallowed pool. Wondering and restless, longing to reach out, they think about the world outside. They invent ingenious speculations and myths about the origin of the confining waters, of the sun and the sky and the stars above , and the meaning of their own existence. But they are wrong, always wrong because the world is too remote from ordinary experience to be merely imagined.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge, 1998
Human understanding is limited by the tools and concepts of science, causing us to imagine the world in ways that miss its true nature.
In simple terms: Science limits our view, leading to mistaken myths.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of our knowledge.
Themes
knowledge
science
human nature
myths
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- public science communication
- interdisciplinary research
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
epistemology
cognitive bias
philosophy of science
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance scientific rigor with imaginative insight?
- What methods help us see beyond current scientific frameworks?
A Different Perspective
Science alone cannot capture all reality; experience and intuition also matter.
![“[T]he true natural sciences lock together in theory and evidence to form the ineradicable technical base of modern civilization. The pseudosciences satisfy personal psychological needs... but lack the ideas or the means to contribute to the technical base.” quote by E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db8/e-o-wilson-1348_civilization_t-he-true-natural-sciences-lock-together_2419733.jpg)
