--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …let us point out precisely the…" description: "\"“…let us point out precisely the difficulties of empiricism as a theory of knowledge. First, it begins with two fixed, unchangeable ultimates--mind and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/holly-estil-cunningham-50125_empiricism_let-us-point-out-precisely-the-difficult_1918956.jpg" --- # …let us point out precisely the difficulties of empiricism… ![“…let us point out precisely the difficulties of empiricism as a theory of knowledge. First, it begins with two fixed, unchangeable ultimates--mind and matter. Second, it asserts that knowledge is the agreement of ideas with each other, in which case we are not dealing with nature or things at all…” quote by Holly Estil Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/holly-estil-cunningham-50125_empiricism_let-us-point-out-precisely-the-difficult_1918956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/holly-estil-cunningham-50125_empiricism_let-us-point-out-precisely-the-difficult_1918956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8af/holly-estil-cunningham-50125_empiricism_let-us-point-out-precisely-the-difficult_1918956.jpg) > ““…let us point out precisely the difficulties of empiricism as a theory of knowledge. First, it begins with two fixed, unchangeable ultimates--mind and matter. Second, it asserts that knowledge is the agreement of ideas with each other, in which case we are not dealing with nature or things at all, and consequently, have left out one of our ultimates. Third, it then asserts (for it is essential that knowledge should somehow or other be connected with things) that knowledge consists in the agreement between an idea and a thing; and in this case we can never tell when the agreement takes place; and furthermore, it is impossible for ideas and things to disagree, for, according to the theory, ideas are copies of things. This means that empiricism can not account for the fact of error . Every theory of knowledge must make a place for error, for, as is evident, error seems to be as industrious as truth. Consequently, if knowledge actually does take place, if there is such an activity, thing, or relation as knowledge, empiricism fails to give an account of it which is free from contradictions. The moral is, as the stories in our school readers say, don't begin with fixed things, for they beguileth one into inconsistencies.”” [Holly Estil Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-estil-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empiricism’s fixed premises of mind and matter, and its idea‑thing agreement, cannot explain error, leading to contradictions in knowledge theory. **In simple terms:** Empiricism can’t explain error, so it’s contradictory. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about unchanging foundations. Themes philosophy epistemology logic Mood critical inquisitive Type theoretical analytical When to use this quote - academic debate - teaching philosophy - critical essays Key Concepts empiricism error contradiction Questions to Reflect On - How can we incorporate error into a theory of knowledge? - What alternatives address empiricism’s flaws? A Different Perspective Empiricism may still be useful in practical science despite its limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empiricism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empiricism/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Theory of knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory-of-knowledge/) ## Related quotes > [“Empiricism teaches that there is a real world of fixed things on the outside and that ideas of these outside things are stamped on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-estil-cunningham/empiricism-teaches-that-there-is-a-real-world-of-fixed-things-on-the/) [Holly Estil Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-estil-cunningham/) > [“I've always believed in the Nero Wolfe theory of knowledge. 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