Calling Quote by Steven Pinker
“It's natural to think that living things must be the handiwork of a designer. But it was also natural to think that the sun went around the earth. Overcoming naive impressions to figure out how things really work is one of humanity's highest callings.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Better Angels of Our Nature, 2011
Human understanding advances by challenging intuitive but and seeking evidence.
In simple terms: Question assumptions to discover truth.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions.
Themes
science
critical thinking
progress
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- public policy
- personal belief
- scientific research
Key Concepts
philosophy
epistemology
cognitive bias
Questions to Reflect On
- What belief have you questioned recently?
- How do you handle evidence that contradicts intuition?
A Different Perspective
Intuitive beliefs are deeply rooted and resist change.
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
