Amount Quote by Morris Raphael Cohen
“By no amount of reasoning can we altogether eliminate all contingency from our world. Moreover, pure speculation alone will not enable us to get a determinate picture of the existing world. We must eliminate some of the conflicting possibilities, and this can be brought about only by experiment and observation.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay: "The Limits of Reason", 1935
Reason alone cannot remove all uncertainty; empirical experiment and observation are needed to narrow possibilities and understand reality.
In simple terms: Reason isn’t enough; experiments clarify reality.
Key Takeaway
Combine theory with observation.
Themes
philosophy
science
epistemology
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
academic
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy making
- technology development
- education curricula
Key Concepts
empiricism
contingency
methodology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance speculation and data?
- What experiments best test our assumptions?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on theory may stall progress.
