Better way Quote by R. G. Collingwood
““...philosophy does not, like exact or empirical science, bring us to know things of which we were simply ignorant, but brings us to know in a different way things which we already knew in some way; and indeed it follows from our own hypothesis; for if the species of a philosophical genus overlap, the distinction between the known and the unknown, which in a non-philosophical subject-matter involves a difference be-tween two mutually exclusive classes of truths, in a philosophical subject-matter im- plies that we may both know and not know the same thing; a paradox which disappears in the light of the notion of a scale of forms of knowledge, where coming to know means coming to know in a different and better way.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays in the History of Philosophy, 1939
Philosophy reveals knowledge differently, showing how we can understand things we already know in a deeper or alternative way.
In simple terms: Philosophy offers a new perspective on familiar knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Seek alternative viewpoints to deepen understanding.
Themes
knowledge
philosophy
perspective
paradox
epistemology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reflection
- teaching
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
dialectics
scale of forms
knowledge hierarchy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a new perspective change your understanding?
- When is a paradox useful for learning?
A Different Perspective
May overlook practical applications of such abstract insights.
