Beard Quote by Willard Van Orman Quine
“Nonbeing must in some sense be, otherwise what is it that there is not? This tangled doctrine might be nicknamed Plato's beard; historically it has proved tough, frequently dulling the edge of Occam's razor.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Essay "On What There Is", 1948
The concept of non‑being is paradoxical; if it exists, it becomes something, challenging logical clarity.
In simple terms: Non‑being is a confusing idea.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about existence.
Themes
philosophy
logic
paradox
ontology
Mood
curious
introspective
Type
analytical
inquisitive
When to use this quote
- debating existence
- teaching philosophy
- writing academic papers
- engaging in debates
Key Concepts
Plato's beard
Occam's razor
metaphysics
Questions to Reflect On
- What does 'non‑being' mean to you?
- Can paradoxes be useful in reasoning?
A Different Perspective
Such abstractions can be inaccessible to non‑specialists.
![“Some have said that the thesis [of indeterminacy] is a consequence of my behaviorism. Some have said that it is a reductio ad absurdum of my behaviorism. I disagree with this second point, but I agree with the first. I hold further that the behaviorism approach is mandatory. In psychology one may…” quote by Willard Van Orman Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e0/willard-van-orman-quine-10137_ads_some-have-said-that-the-thesis-of-indete_315688.jpg)
