Able Quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
“Philosophy treats of physics where a more careful knowledge is required because the problems which come under this head are numerous... So the reader of Ctesibius or Archimedes and the other writers of treatises of the same class will not be able to appreciate them unless he has been trained in these subjects by the philosophers.”
About This Quote
Source Book: De Architectura, Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, 1st century BC
Understanding physics requires careful study; without philosophical training, readers of ancient engineers cannot fully grasp their work.
In simple terms: Physics needs careful study; philosophy helps understand ancient engineers.
Key Takeaway
Study philosophy to better read ancient technical works.
Themes
education
philosophy
physics
history of science
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
analytical
educational
When to use this quote
- engineering students
- history of science courses
- self‑study of ancient texts
Key Concepts
Epistemology
interdisciplinary learning
Questions to Reflect On
- How does philosophy aid technical comprehension?
- What other disciplines benefit from philosophical grounding?
A Different Perspective
Philosophical training may not replace practical experience.
![“Men who are lovers of wisdom [i.e., philosophers] must be inquirers into many things.” quote by Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a31/heraclitus-1050_inquirers_men-who-are-lovers-of-wisdom-i-e-philoso_124530.jpg)
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
![“The [engineer] should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory.” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afa/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_art_the-engineer-should-be-equipped-with-kno_386834.jpg)
![“All these soft kinds [of stone] have the advantage that they can be easily worked as soon as they have been taken from the quarries. Under cover, they play their part well; but in open and exposed situations the frost and rime make them crumble, and they go to pieces. On the seacoast, too, the…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/541/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_all-these-soft-kinds-of-stone-have-the-a_406721.jpg)
