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Cosmology Quote by Marilynne Robinson

“If physics and cosmology are truly sciences, then there exists a body of excellent evidence that the scale and the varieties of Being vastly exceed anything an earlier generation could have imagined. This persuades me that reasoning about ultimate things cannot be based on the anomalous fragment…” quote by Marilynne Robinson
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““If physics and cosmology are truly sciences, then there exists a body of excellent evidence that the scale and the varieties of Being vastly exceed anything an earlier generation could have imagined. This persuades me that reasoning about ultimate things cannot be based on the anomalous fragment of reality accessible to our awareness.””

Marilynne Robinson

About This Quote

Source Book: The Givenness of Things, 2015

Our limited perception cannot fully grasp the vastness of reality, so ultimate truths lie beyond empirical evidence.

In simple terms: We cannot fully understand reality with limited senses.

Key Takeaway

Accept uncertainty about ultimate truths.

Themes

knowledge humility cosmology philosophy

Mood

wonderful reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • scientific research
  • spiritual contemplation
  • philosophical debate
  • education
  • public policy

Key Concepts

epistemology metaphysics cosmic scale

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we balance scientific inquiry with humility?
  • What role should speculation play in understanding the cosmos?
A Different Perspective

Human cognition is constrained; absolute certainty may be impossible.

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