External Cause Quote by John Stuart Mill
““It may be asked, how come we to ascribe our sensations to any external cause? And is there sufficient ground for so ascribing them? It is known, that there are metaphysicians who have raised a controversy on the point; maintaining that we are not warranted in referring our sensations to a cause such as we understand by the word Body, or to any external cause whatever.””
About This Quote
Source Book: A System of Logic, 1843
Mill questions whether we can reasonably attribute our sensations to external causes like the body, highlighting philosophical debate on causality.
In simple terms: He questions if sensations truly come from outside us.
Key Takeaway
Examine the basis of your sensory assumptions.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
metaphysics
Mood
curious
analytical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
inquisitive
critical
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- medical diagnosis
- psychology
- everyday decision making
Key Concepts
causality
sensory perception
skepticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you assume external causes for all sensations?
- How might internal factors shape perception?
A Different Perspective
Sensory at may be influenced by internal biases, not just external causes.
![“[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.” quote by John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c53/john-stuart-mill-477_doubt_for-people-to-refuse-a-hearing-to-an-opi_63929.jpg)
