Belief Quote by Nomy Arpaly
“When I see two owls and then two more owls and conclude that I see four owls, I am responding to reasons, and it better not be my choice to believe that two plus two always equals four. If I am a rational person, I will have that belief by necessity, whether I wanted to or not. So it's not that strange to discuss responding to reasons out of necessity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: "Essays on Moral Psychology" by Nomy Arpaly, 2009
Rational belief in logical truths is compelled by reason, not by personal choice; we accept them out of necessity
In simple terms: Logical truths are accepted because they are necessary, not chosen
Key Takeaway
Recognize that some beliefs are unavoidable due to logical structure
Themes
rationality
logic
necessity
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- mathematics education
- legal reasoning
- ethical deliberation
- software verification
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
epistemology
philosophy of mind
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we sometimes reject logical truths that seem necessary?
- How can we reconcile emotional intuitions with rational necessity?
A Different Perspective
People may resist necessary truths when they conflict with emotions or biases
