Accepted Quote by Gardner Murphy
“It has become accepted doctrine that we must attempt to study the whole man. Actually we cannot study even a whole tree or a whole guinea pig. But it is a whole tree and a whole guinea pig that have survived and evolved, and we must make the attempt.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: The Nature of Man, 1945
The author argues that studying the whole human being is impossible, yet we must attempt it, using analogies of trees and guinea pigs to illustrate complexity.
In simple terms: We cannot fully understand a person, but we should strive to study humanity as a whole.
Key Takeaway
Pursue holistic understanding despite inherent limits.
Themes
holism
complexity
human nature
science
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- medical research
- education reform
- psychological studies
- policy development
Key Concepts
interdisciplinary
systems thinking
limitations
Questions to Reflect On
- What methods can balance depth and breadth in studying people?
- How can interdisciplinary work avoid oversimplification?
A Different Perspective
The ambition may ignore practical constraints and the risk of reductionism.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
