Belief Quote by Thomas Huxley
“To say that an idea is necessary is simply to affirm that we cannot conceive the contrary; and the fact that we cannot conceive the contrary of any belief may be a presumption, but is certainly no proof, of its truth.”
About This Quote
Claiming necessity of an idea doesn't prove its truth; lack of contrary conception is insufficient evidence.
In simple terms: Absence of opposition isn’t proof.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions.
Themes
philosophy
logic
skepticism
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- policy making
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
burden of proof
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you treat unchallenged ideas as true?
- How can you test the necessity of a belief?
A Different Perspective
Assuming necessity can blind us to alternatives.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
