Being real Quote by Phillip E. Johnson
“Evolutionary naturalism takes the inherent limitations of science and turns them into a devastating philosophical weapon: because science is our only real way of knowing anything, what science cannot know cannot be real.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Godless: The Church of Liberalism, Richard Dawkins, 2008
Science is treated as the sole path to truth, making its limits a weapon against other ways of knowing.
In simple terms: Science seen as the only way to know, so its limits become a threat.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that knowledge comes from many sources.
Themes
epistemology
philosophy
science
religion
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- debates about science vs faith
- education curricula
- public policy
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
Limits of empiricism
philosophical weapon
knowledge pluralism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance scientific rigor with other ways of knowing?
- What are the risks of treating science as the sole truth?
A Different Perspective
Science alone cannot answer all questions; other methods matter.
![“Modernist discourse [...] incorporates semantic devices - such as the labeling of theism as 'religion' and naturalism as 'science' - that work to prevent a dangerous debate over fundamental assumptions from breaking out in the open.” quote by Phillip E. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cf4/phillip-e-johnson-14758_assumption_modernist-discourse-incorporates-semanti_1772274.jpg)
