Atheism Quote by Richard Dawkins
““It is a tedious cliché (and, unlike many clichés, it isn't even true) that science concerns itself with how questions, but only theology is equipped to answer why questions. What on Earth is a why question? Not every English sentence beginning with the word 'why' is a legitimate question. Why are unicorns hollow? Some questions simply do not deserve an answer. What is the colour of abstraction? What is the smell of hope? The fact that a question can be phrased in a grammatically correct English sentence doesn't make it meaningful, or entitle it to our serious attention. Nor, even if the question is a real one, does the fact that science cannot answer it imply that religion can.””
About This Quote
Science addresses how mechanisms work, while “why” often seeks purpose, which may be beyond empirical scope.
In simple terms: Science explains processes; purpose may be philosophical.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish descriptive from existential questions.
Themes
philosophy
science
epistemology
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal reflection
- public discourse
Key Concepts
methodology
meaning
ontology
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a question meaningful?
- How do we decide if a question is worth asking?
A Different Perspective
Not all “why” questions are answerable; some may be meaningless.
![“When people say, well, they disapprove, I'd like to know what the specifics are, because sometimes - and the president [Barack Obama] has admitted this - they may not feel like he's really explaining and understanding the emotion behind some of these fears [about Iran]. And that's a perfectly…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05c/hillary-clinton-51_agree_when-people-say-well-they-disapprove-i-d_1056559.jpg)
