Philosophy Quote by Jostein Gaarder
““Both for a philosopher and for a scientist it can be important not to reject the possibility of finding a white crow. You might almost say that hunting for 'the white crow' is science's principal task””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Solitaire Mystery” (1990)
Advocates keeping an open mind to unlikely discoveries, likening scientific pursuit to searching for a white crow.
In simple terms: Science should not dismiss improbable possibilities.
Key Takeaway
Embrace curiosity, pursue the improbable.
Themes
science
open‑mindedness
discovery
Mood
inquisitive
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research projects
- innovation workshops
- educational curricula
- scientific debates
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance curiosity with feasibility?
- What ‘white crows’ exist in your field?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on rarity may distract from practical goals.
![“I never knew any man who had once tasted the sweetness of experimental knowledge, that ever afterward fasted after ye Vapour garlick and onions of phantasmatical seeming philosophy." [William Petty]” quote by Carl Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5a/carl-zimmer-16331_knowledge_i-never-knew-any-man-who-had-once-tasted_1770.jpg)
