Authority Quote by Margaret Benson
“All progress in knowledge takes place through the correction of that which has been received on authority.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Philosophy of Science, Margaret Benson, 1905
Knowledge advances by questioning and revising accepted beliefs rather than accepting them blindly.
In simple terms: Progress comes from correcting authority.
Challenge assumptions regularly.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy making
- education
- personal belief systems
- scientific inquiry
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs have you accepted without question?
- How can you test authority in your field?
Authority can be entrenched, making correction difficult.