--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My fundamental axiom of speculative…" description: "\"My fundamental axiom of speculative philosophy is that materialism and spiritualism are opposite poles of the same absurdity-the absurdity of imagining..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/thomas-huxley-1183_absurdity_my-fundamental-axiom-of-speculative-phil_744115.png" --- # My fundamental axiom of speculative philosophy is that… ![“My fundamental axiom of speculative philosophy is that materialism and spiritualism are opposite poles of the same absurdity-the absurdity of imagining that we know anything about either spirit or matter.” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/thomas-huxley-1183_absurdity_my-fundamental-axiom-of-speculative-phil_744115.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/thomas-huxley-1183_absurdity_my-fundamental-axiom-of-speculative-phil_744115.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/649/thomas-huxley-1183_absurdity_my-fundamental-axiom-of-speculative-phil_744115.png) > “My fundamental axiom of speculative philosophy is that materialism and spiritualism are opposite poles of the same absurdity-the absurdity of imagining that we know anything about either spirit or matter.” [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Materialism and spiritualism are two sides of a meaningless attempt to claim certainty about reality. **In simple terms:** Both claim certainty about reality. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about knowledge. Themes philosophy epistemology skepticism Mood reflective critical skeptical Type philosophical inquisitive When to use this quote - academic debate - personal belief - spiritual practice - scientific inquiry Key Concepts dualism absurdity knowledge limits Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to "know" anything? - How can we accept uncertainty? A Different Perspective Both sides may be equally unfounded. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Axioms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/axioms/) [Fundamentals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamentals/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism/) [Materialism Spiritualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materialism-spiritualism-4645724/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Materialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-materialism-3485934/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Speculative Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speculative-philosophy-766926/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spiritualism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritualism/) [Spiritualism Opposite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritualism-opposite-5803292/) ## Related quotes > [“Neither materialism, nor spiritualism reveals the truth - neither atheism, nor theism reveals the truth - neither intellectualism, nor callousness reveals the truth. 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I have searched over the grounds of my belief, and if wife and child and name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/oh-devil-truth-is-better-than-much-profit-i-have-searched-over-the/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Let us have "sweet girl graduates" by all means. They will be none the less sweet for a little wisdom; and the "golden hair"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/let-us-have-sweet-girl-graduates-by-all-means-they-will-be-none-the/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [In matters of the intellect, do not pretend that conclusions are certain which are not demonstrated or demonstrable. 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