All restraints upon man's natural liberty, not necessary for the simple maintenance of justice, are of the nature of slavery, and differ from each other only in degree.
Lysander SpoonerRead
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.
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