--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you ask why did some particular…" description: "\"When you ask why did some particular question occur to a scientist or philosopher for the first time, or why did this particular approach seem natural,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/rebecca-goldstein-4026_answers_when-you-ask-why-did-some-particular-que_94743.jpg" --- # When you ask why did some particular question occur to a… ![“When you ask why did some particular question occur to a scientist or philosopher for the first time, or why did this particular approach seem natural, then your questions concern the context of discovery. When you ask whether the argument the philosopher puts forth to answer that question is…” quote by Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/rebecca-goldstein-4026_answers_when-you-ask-why-did-some-particular-que_94743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/rebecca-goldstein-4026_answers_when-you-ask-why-did-some-particular-que_94743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/39f/rebecca-goldstein-4026_answers_when-you-ask-why-did-some-particular-que_94743.jpg) > “When you ask why did some particular question occur to a scientist or philosopher for the first time, or why did this particular approach seem natural, then your questions concern the context of discovery. When you ask whether the argument the philosopher puts forth to answer that question is sound, or whether the evidence justifies the scientific theory proposed, then you've entered the context of justification. Considerations of history, sociology, anthropology, and psychology are relevant to the context of discovery, but not to justification.” [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discovery is shaped by personal and cultural context, while justification demands logical rigor independent of those influences. **In simple terms:** Discovery vs. justification Key Takeaway Context informs ideas; proof must be objective Themes epistemology history of science philosophy of mind methodology bias Mood analytical inquisitive Type academic explanatory When to use this quote - research design - academic curricula - science policy - philosophical seminars Key Concepts context of discovery context of justification history sociology psychology Practical Applications - research methodology courses - critical thinking workshops Questions to Reflect On - How do personal experiences bias hypothesis formation? - Can justification ever be truly context‑free? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Anthropology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthropology/) [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Argument Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument-philosopher-1166786/) [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Concern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concern/) [Consideration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consideration/) [Context Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/context-justification-1166785/) [Discovery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery/) [Discovery Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discovery-justification-1166784/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Justification Considerations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification-considerations-1166787/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosopher/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-theory/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sociology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sociology/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Truth Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-seeking/) ## Related quotes > [“I was trained as a philosopher never to put philosophers and their ideas into historical contexts, since historical context has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-goldstein/i-was-trained-as-a-philosopher-never-to-put-philosophers-and-their-2/) [Rebecca Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-goldstein/) > [Empty is the argument of the philosopher which does not relieve any human suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epicurus/empty-is-the-argument-of-the-philosopher-which-does-not-relieve-any/) [Epicurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epicurus/) > [I do agree that the science is not settled on this. 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