Armchairs Quote by Hilary Kornblith
“The experimentalists think that we can only get at our concepts by way of empirical investigation, while the armchair philosophers think that we can skip the experiments and figure things out from our armchairs. What they have in common, however, is regarding our concepts as the targets of philosophical theorising, and I just don't think that, in the vast majority of cases, the subject matter of philosophy has our concepts as its target.”
About This Quote
Source Paper: Empiricism vs. Armchair Philosophy, 2020
Empiricists rely on data, while armchair philosophers skip experiments, yet both treat concepts as philosophical targets, often missing real-world relevance.
In simple terms: Empiricists use data; armchair philosophers rely on thought.
Key Takeaway
Bridge empirical work with conceptual analysis.
Themes
methodology
philosophy
empiricism
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
academic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research design
- academic debate
- policy making
Key Concepts
conceptual analysis
scientific method
theory development
Questions to Reflect On
- How can philosophy stay grounded in reality?
- What balance yields robust knowledge?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on concepts can ignore practical impact.
![“[On the Gaussian curve, remarked to Poincaré:] Experimentalists think that it is a mathematical theorem while the mathematicians believe it to be an experimental fact.” quote by Gabriel Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/caa/gabriel-lippmann-37391_belief_on-the-gaussian-curve-remarked-to-poinca_446072.jpg)
