They that know no evil will suspect none.
Ben JonsonRead
Philosophy attempts, not to discover new truths about the world, but to gain a clear view of what we already know and believe about it. That depends upon attaining a more explicit grasp of the structure of our thoughts; and that in turn on discovering how to give a systematic account of the working of language, the medium in which we express our thoughts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Philosophy seeks to clarify our existing beliefs rather than uncover new truths, focusing on understanding the language we use to express those beliefs.
This quote by Michael Dummett emphasizes the role of philosophy as a discipline that aims not merely to find new truths, but to attain clarity about our existing beliefs and thoughts. To achieve this clarity, one must analyze the structure of their thinking and how language functions, as language is the primary medium through which we articulate our ideas and convictions. Thus, philosophy serves to enhance our understanding of the beliefs we hold by providing a systematic framework to evaluate them.
Themes
PhilosophyThoughtLanguageTruthBelief
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of knowledge, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of examining our existing beliefs.
Similar quotes
In Buddhist teaching, ignorance is considered the fundamental cause of violence - ignorance... about the separation of self and other... about the consequences of our actions.
Sharon SalzbergRead
By the time you rise through the ranks, the culture of homogenization has bred the spirit and imagination out of you.
Ralph NaderRead
New York is something awful, something monstrous. I like to walk the streets, lost, but I recognize that New York is the world's greatest lie. New York is Senegal with machines.
Federico Garcia LorcaRead
I have seen firsthand how injustice gets overlooked when the victims are powerless or vulnerable, when they have no one to speak up for them and no means of representing themselves to a higher authority. Animals are in precisely that position. Unless we are mindful of their interests and speak out loudly on their behalf, abuse and cruelty go unchallenged.
Desmond TutuRead
Meditation helps me feel the shape, the texture of my inner life. Here, in the quiet, I can begin to taste what Buddhists would call my true nature, what Jews call the still, small voice, what Christians call the holy spirit.
Wayne MullerRead