Accompany Quote by John Quiggin
“In philosophical terms, the opposite of rationalism is not irrationalism but empiricism, that is, a willingness to form beliefs on the basis of experience rather than from a priori deduction. Empirical evidence never yields the dogmatic certainty that accompanies logical deduction.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Economics and Philosophy, 2015
Rationalism relies on deduction; empiricism values experience‑based belief, avoiding dogmatic certainty.
In simple terms: Experience shapes belief more than pure logic.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize evidence over abstract certainty.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
science
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- research
- policy making
- education
- daily decision‑making
Key Concepts
empiricism
rationalism
knowledge formation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle uncertainty in decisions?
- When is logical deduction preferable?
A Different Perspective
Empirical evidence can be ambiguous and inconclusive.
![“We [ with Edward Herman] believe that the empirical evidence we review there - and elsewhere, in a great deal of joint and separate work - lends substantial support to the conclusions; whether that is true is for others to judge.” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0e0/noam-chomsky-42_believe_we-with-edward-herman-believe-that-the-e_1221666.jpg)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
