Ought Quote by John Stuart Mill
“The philosophy of reasoning, to be complete, ought to comprise the theory of bad as well as of good reasoning.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On Liberty by John Stuart Mill, 1859
A complete theory of reasoning must address both correct and incorrect arguments.
In simple terms: Reasoning includes good and bad.
Key Takeaway
Study both sound and fallacious logic.
Themes
logic
reasoning
philosophy
critical thinking
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- writing essays
- making decisions
- teaching philosophy
Key Concepts
epistemology
argumentation
fallacies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you identify faulty reasoning?
- What role does bias play in bad arguments?
A Different Perspective
Bad reasoning can be persuasive, making it hard to spot errors.
![“[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)
