I don't know whether God exists or not. ... Some forms of atheism are arrogant and ignorant and should be rejected, but agnosticism—to admit that we don't know and to search—is all right. ... When I look at what I call the gift of life, I feel a gratitude which is in tune with some religious ideas of God. However, the moment I even speak of it, I am embarrassed that I may do something wrong to God in talking about God.
Interpretation
The quote expresses uncertainty about the existence of God while valuing the search for understanding and embracing life's gratitude.
In this quote, Karl Popper discusses the complexity of belief and knowledge regarding the existence of God. He recognizes the arrogance in some forms of atheism, advocates for agnosticism as a humble acceptance of our limitations in knowing, and emphasizes a profound gratitude for life that resonates with religious sentiment. Yet, he admits feeling hesitant about discussing God, reflecting a tension between reverence and uncertainty.
In practice
In a philosophical discussion about faith and uncertainty.
The growth of our knowledge is the result of a process closely resembling what Darwin called 'natural selection'; that is, the natural selection of hypotheses: our knowledge consists, at every moment, of those hypotheses which have shown their (comparative) fitness by surviving so far in their struggle for existence, a competitive struggle which eliminates those hypotheses which are unfit.
If you can't say it simply and clearly, keep quiet, and keep working on it till you can.
No particular theory may ever be regarded as absolutely certain.... No scientific theory is sacrosanct.
The belief in a political Utopia is especially dangerous. This is possibly connected with the fact that the search for a better world, like the investigation of our environment, is (if I am correct) one of the oldest and most important of all the instincts.
A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others - not by simply taking over another's opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others
Thus science must begin with myths, and with the criticism of myths; neither with the collection of observations, nor with the invention of experiments, but with the critical discussion of myths, and of magical techniques and practices.
Name a moral statement or action, uttered or performed by a religious person that could not have been uttered or performed by an unbeliever.
I find the whole business of religion profoundly interesting. But it does mystify me that otherwise intelligent people take it seriously.
Grief, like Covid-19, mutates and escapes the inoculation of both time and the reassurance of loving friends. It is less sledgehammer and more screwdriver, drilling little holes in your head and heart, leaving you haunted by the ifs and buts of your decisions.
The secret of the demagogue is to make himself as stupid as his audience so they believe they are clever as he.
Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider.
It is by its promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak.
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