--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even scientific knowledge, if there is…" description: "\"Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for the critical objectivity of significant knowl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg" --- # Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is… ![“Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for the critical objectivity of significant knowledge is attained as a practice only philosophically in inner action.” quote by Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg) > “Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for the critical objectivity of significant knowledge is attained as a practice only philosophically in inner action.” [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowledge requires disciplined, reflective practice rather than passive observation of random facts. **In simple terms:** Think critically, not just observe. Key Takeaway Cultivate disciplined inquiry. Themes philosophy epistemology critical thinking Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - scientific method - personal reflection Key Concepts inner action objectivity methodology Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance theory and data? - What habits foster inner action? A Different Perspective May overlook empirical data. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Critical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical/) [Critical Objectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critical-objectivity-2141212/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Objectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectivity/) [Objectivity Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objectivity-significant-3512729/) [Objects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objects/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Philosophically Inner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophically-inner-3512728/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Philosophically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-philosophically-3512730/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-knowledge/) [Significant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/significant/) ## Related quotes > [If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was the ability to think with critical objectivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-lanyon/if-there-was-one-life-skill-everyone-on-the-planet-needed-it-was-the/) [Josh Lanyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-lanyon/) > [On the question of the world as a whole, science founders. For scientific knowledge the world lies in fragments, the more so the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/on-the-question-of-the-world-as-a-whole-science-founders-for/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [Those Dutchmen had hardly any imagination or fantasy, but their good taste and their scientific knowledge of composition were enormous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/those-dutchmen-had-hardly-any-imagination-or-fantasy-but-their-good/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [During the first half of the present century we had an Alexander von Humboldt, who was able to scan the scientific knowledge of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-von-helmholtz/during-the-first-half-of-the-present-century-we-had-an-alexander-von/) [Hermann von Helmholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-von-helmholtz/) > [“Human society should very seriously understand that the body itself is the source of all miserable life. Modern civilization is supposed to be making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/human-society-should-very-seriously-understand-that-the-body-itself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To be sure, the doctrine of a personal God interfering with natural events could never be refuted, in the real sense, by science, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/to-be-sure-the-doctrine-of-a-personal-god-interfering-with-natural/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The truly apocalyptic view of the world is that things do not repeat themselves. It isn’t absurd, e.g., to believe that the age of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/the-truly-apocalyptic-view-of-the-world-is-that-things-do-not-repeat/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [“As I see it the world is undoubtedly in need of a new religion, and that religion must be founded on humanist principles. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/as-i-see-it-the-world-is-undoubtedly-in-need-of-a-new-religion-and/) [Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/) > [The fact that these scientific theories have a fine track record of successful prediction and explanation speaks for itself. (Which is not to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kornblith/the-fact-that-these-scientific-theories-have-a-fine-track-record-of/) [Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kornblith/) > [“Science can now help us to understand ourselves in this way by giving factual information about brain structure and function, and how the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/science-can-now-help-us-to-understand-ourselves-in-this-way-by-giving/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“To the point: A woman who wants to terminate her pregnancy has to make her decision in the context of a culture that shames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-parker/to-the-point-a-woman-who-wants-to-terminate-her-pregnancy-has-to-make/) [Willie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-parker/) > [“Yet the paradox is that scientific methodology is the product of human hands and thus cannot reach some permanent truth. We build scientific theories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/yet-the-paradox-is-that-scientific-methodology-is-the-product-of/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [“If my duty to my parents is a superstition, then so is my duty to posterity. If justice is a superstition, then so is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-my-duty-to-my-parents-is-a-superstition-then-so-is-my-duty-to/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Science is not marginal. Like art, it is a universal possession of humanity, and scientific knowledge has become a vital part of our species'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/science-is-not-marginal-like-art-it-is-a-universal-possession-of/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [What our species needs, above all else, is a generally accepted ethical system that is compatible with the scientific knowledge we now possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-our-species-needs-above-all-else-is-a-generally-accepted-ethical/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Karl Jaspers > [The more determinedly I exist, as myself, within the conditions of the time, the more clearly I shall hear the language of the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/the-more-determinedly-i-exist-as-myself-within-the-conditions-of-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [Nietzsche's ideas and plans: for example, the idea of giving up the whole wretched academic world to form a secular monastic community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/nietzsche-s-ideas-and-plans-for-example-the-idea-of-giving-up-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [What is meaningful cannot in fact be isolated…. We achieve understanding within a circular movement from particular facts to the whole that includes them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/what-is-meaningful-cannot-in-fact-be-isolated-we-achieve/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [“But each one of us is guilty insofar as he remained inactive. The guilt of passivity is different. Impotence excuses; no moral law demands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/but-each-one-of-us-is-guilty-insofar-as-he-remained-inactive-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [At the present moment, the security of coherent philosophy, which existed from Parmenides to Hegel, is lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/at-the-present-moment-the-security-of-coherent-philosophy-which/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [The great philosophers and the great works are standards for the selection of what is essential. Everything that we do in studying the history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/the-great-philosophers-and-the-great-works-are-standards-for-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [We must learn to talk with each other, and we mutually must understand and accept one another in our extraordinary differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/we-must-learn-to-talk-with-each-other-and-we-mutually-must-understand/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [The Socratic teacher turns his students away from himself and back onto themselves; he hides in paradoxes, makes himself inaccessible. The intimate relationship between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/the-socratic-teacher-turns-his-students-away-from-himself-and-back/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [What makes us afraid is our great freedom in the face of the emptiness that has still to be filled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/what-makes-us-afraid-is-our-great-freedom-in-the-face-of-the/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [To decide to become a philosopher seemed as foolish to me as to decide to become a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/to-decide-to-become-a-philosopher-seemed-as-foolish-to-me-as-to/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [Philosophy is tested and characterised by the way in which it appropriates its history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/philosophy-is-tested-and-characterised-by-the-way-in-which-it/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [“Tragedy occurs whenever awareness exceeds power; and particularly where awareness of a major need exceeds the power to satisfy it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/tragedy-occurs-whenever-awareness-exceeds-power-and-particularly/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [There is no God, cry the masses more and more vociferously; and with the loss of God man loses his sense of values —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/there-is-no-god-cry-the-masses-more-and-more-vociferously-and-with/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [“The limits of science have always been the source of bitter disappointment when people expected something from science that it was not able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/the-limits-of-science-have-always-been-the-source-of-bitter/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) > [The Greek word for philosopher (philosophos) connotes a distinction from sophos. It signifies the lover of wisdom (knowledge) as distinguished from him who considers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/the-greek-word-for-philosopher-philosophos-connotes-a-distinction/) [Karl Jaspers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) [Explore all 58 Karl Jaspers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for the critical objectivity of significant knowledge is attained as a practice only philosophically in inner action.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karl Jaspers" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-anything-to-it-is-not-a-random/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-anything-to-it-is-not-a-random/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/karl-jaspers-11518_action_even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-an_1187917.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even scientific knowledge, if there is anything to it, is not a random observation of random objects; for…” — Karl Jaspers", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karl Jaspers", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-jaspers/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even scientific knowledge, if there is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-anything-to-it-is-not-a-random/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-jaspers/even-scientific-knowledge-if-there-is-anything-to-it-is-not-a-random/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```