Logic Quote by Herbert Simon
““Reason, then, goes to work only after it has been supplied with a suitable set of inputs, or premises. If reason is to be applied to discovering and choosing courses of action, then those inputs include, at the least, a set of should's, or values to be achieved, and a set of is's, or facts about the world in which the action is to be taken. Any attempt to justify these should's and is's by logic will simply lead to a regress to new should's and is's that are similarly postulated.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Sciences of the Artificial by Herbert Simon, 1969
Reason operates only after it receives appropriate premises and values; without them, logical justification leads to endless regress.
In simple terms: Reason needs proper inputs.
Key Takeaway
Provide clear premises and values before reasoning.
Themes
reasoning
logic
values
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
instructive
When to use this quote
- policy making
- ethical deliberation
- strategic planning
- scientific research
Key Concepts
epistemology
decision theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What premises guide your decisions?
- How can you resolve value conflicts?
A Different Perspective
Values and facts are often contested, limiting pure logic.
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