Married couples who quarrel bitterly every day may really need each other as deeply as those who appear to be desperately in love.
Edward AbbeyRead
Nothing could be more reckless than to base one's moral philosophy on the latest pronouncements of science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Reliance on science alone for moral guidance can lead to irresponsible conclusions.
Edward Abbey cautions against the tendency to let scientific updates dictate moral frameworks. He argues that while science provides valuable insights into the natural world, it lacks the capacity to inform ethical principles, which are built on deeper philosophical considerations and human experiences beyond empirical evidence. Therefore, developing a moral philosophy based solely on the latest scientific findings can lead to reckless, uninformed decisions that disregard the complexities of human values and ethics.
Themes
MoralitySciencePhilosophyEthicsRecklessness
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about the role of ethics in scientific research, this quote could highlight the importance of philosophical grounding.
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If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
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The earth is real. Only a fool, milking his cow, denies the cow's reality.
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I believe in nothing that I cannot touch, kiss, embrace.... The rest is only hearsay.
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Why can't we simply borrow what is useful to us from Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, especially Zen, as we borrow from Christianity, science, American Indian traditions and world literature in general, including philosophy, and let the rest go hang? Borrow what we need but rely principally upon our own senses, common sense and daily living experience.
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