--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fundamental ideas are not a consequence…" description: "\"Fundamental ideas are not a consequence of experience, but a result of the particular constitution and activity of the mind, which is independent of al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/william-whewell-17887_activity_fundamental-ideas-are-not-a-consequence_2055130.png" --- # Fundamental ideas are not a consequence of experience, but… ![“Fundamental ideas are not a consequence of experience, but a result of the particular constitution and activity of the mind, which is independent of all experience in its origin, though constantly combined with experience in its exercise.” quote by William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/william-whewell-17887_activity_fundamental-ideas-are-not-a-consequence_2055130.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/william-whewell-17887_activity_fundamental-ideas-are-not-a-consequence_2055130.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/william-whewell-17887_activity_fundamental-ideas-are-not-a-consequence_2055130.png) > “Fundamental ideas are not a consequence of experience, but a result of the particular constitution and activity of the mind, which is independent of all experience in its origin, though constantly combined with experience in its exercise.” [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ideas arise from the mind's innate structures, not merely from sensory input, though they interact with experience. **In simple terms:** Ideas stem from the mind, not just experience. Key Takeaway Recognize innate mental frameworks. Themes philosophy mind knowledge experience cognition Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - education - creative writing - scientific research - personal reflection Key Concepts innate structures mental activity epistemology Questions to Reflect On - How do innate mental structures shape your understanding? - Can experience ever alter these structures? A Different Perspective May overlook external influences on thought formation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [ “...\[R\]eason of itself, independent on all experience, ordains what ought to take place, that accordingly actions of which perhaps the world has hitherto never… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/r-eason-of-itself-independent-on-all-experience-ordains-what-ought-to/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [When you experience your origin as a reality, you are happy. Be constant under all circumstances and relate to one thing - you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/when-you-experience-your-origin-as-a-reality-you-are-happy-be/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [A mind cannot be independent of culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-vygotsky/a-mind-cannot-be-independent-of-culture/) [Lev Vygotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-vygotsky/) > [ No idea is conceived in our mind independent of our five senses \[i.e., no idea is divinely inspired\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/no-idea-is-conceived-in-our-mind-independent-of-our-five-senses-i-e/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Fortunately I experienced Max Wertheimer's teaching in Berlin and collaborated for over a decade with Wolfgang Köhler. 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The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) ## More by William Whewell > [In order that the facts obtained by observation and experiment may be capable of being used in furtherance of our exact and solid knowledge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/in-order-that-the-facts-obtained-by-observation-and-experiment-may-be/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [“And so no force however great can stretch a cord however fine into a horizontal line that shall be absolutely straight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/and-so-no-force-however-great-can-stretch-a-cord-however-fine-into-a/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [We cannot observe external things without some degree of Thought; nor can we reflect upon our Thoughts, without being influenced in the course of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-cannot-observe-external-things-without-some-degree-of-thought-nor/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The catastrophist constructs theories, the uniformitarian demolishes them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-catastrophist-constructs-theories-the-uniformitarian-demolishes/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The system becomes more coherent as it is further extended. 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I should incline to call him a scientist. \[The first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/we-need-very-much-a-name-to-describe-a-cultivator-of-science-in/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [The earlier truths are not expelled but absorbed, not contradicted but extended; and the history of each science, which may thus appear like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/the-earlier-truths-are-not-expelled-but-absorbed-not-contradicted-but/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Astronomy is ... the only progressive Science which the ancient world produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-whewell/astronomy-is-the-only-progressive-science-which-the-ancient-world/) [William Whewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-whewell/) > [Every failure is a step to success. 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Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Fighting's fun, man. It's a great activity, it's a great sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mitrione/fighting-s-fun-man-it-s-a-great-activity-it-s-a-great-sport/) [Matt Mitrione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mitrione/) > [There were books everywhere in my house. Books were very present. I just loved books. I never understood reading as anything but a pleasurable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lucas/there-were-books-everywhere-in-my-house-books-were-very-present-i/) [Lisa Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lucas/) > [For war to man, like childbirth to women, is simplifying in its emotions and activities. All the real problems of life can be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/for-war-to-man-like-childbirth-to-women-is-simplifying-in-its/) [Pearl S. 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