Ability Quote by William Stanley Jevons
“I am convinced that it is impossible to expound the methods of induction in a sound manner, without resting them upon the theory of probability. Perfect knowledge alone can give certainty, and in nature perfect knowledge would be infinite knowledge, which is clearly beyond our capacities. We have, therefore, to content ourselves with partial knowledge-knowledge mingled with ignorance, producing doubt.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Theory of Political Economy, William Stanley Jevons, 1871
Induction requires probability because absolute certainty is unattainable; we must accept partial knowledge and doubt.
In simple terms: We need probability to reason with incomplete knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty and use probability.
Themes
epistemology
uncertainty
methodology
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- scientific research
- policy making
- financial forecasting
- everyday decision making
Key Concepts
probability theory
inductive reasoning
knowledge limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you handle decisions with limited information?
- Can probability replace intuition?
A Different Perspective
Probability cannot eliminate all doubt, only manage it.
