Exception Quote by Luigi Luca Cavalli-Sforza
“Mathematics may be the only exception in the sciences that leaves no room for skepicism. But, if mathematical results are exact as no empirical law can ever be, philosophers have discovered that they are not absolutely novel - instead, they are tautological.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Scientific Method and Philosophy, 1990
Mathematics is seen as exact, yet its results are often tautological rather than truly novel.
In simple terms: Math seems exact but can be circular.
Question assumptions about mathematical novelty.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching
- policy making
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance mathematical rigor with philosophical critique?
- Can tautological results still be valuable?
Mathematics still provides useful models despite philosophical limits.