“We are in the ordinary position of scientists of having to be content with piecemeal improvements: we can make several things clearer, but we cannot make anything clear.” ScienceClearPositionOrdinaryScientistImprovement Author:Frank P. Ramsey
“Logic issues in tautologies, mathematics in identities, philosophy in definitions; all trivial, but all part of the vital work of clarifying and organising our thought.” PhilosophyScienceIssuesIdentityHard WorkLogicMathematicsDefinitionsOur ThoughtsClarifyingTautology Author:Frank P. Ramsey
“Science, history and politics are not suited for discussion except by experts. Others are simply in the position of requiring more information; and, till they have acquired all available information, cannot do anything but accept on authority the opinions of those better qualified.” ScienceAcceptingOpinionHistoryInformationPositionAcceptanceAuthorityAvailableDiscussionExpertsQualifiedAcquisition Author:Frank P. Ramsey
“My picture of the world is drawn in perspective and not like a model to scale. The foreground is occupied by human beings and the stars are all as small as three-penny bits. I don't really believe in astronomy, except as a complicated description of part of the course of human and possibly animal sensation. I apply my perspective not merely to space but also to time. In time the world will cool and everything will die; but that is a long time off still and its present value at compound discount is almost nothing.” WorldBelieveHumansLongStillsScienceValuesDiesThreeCoursesBeliefStarsBitsHuman BeingsSpaceAnimalPerspectiveLong TimeModelsComplicatedAstronomyScalesDescriptionSensationsPenniesCompoundsTime OffDiscountsForeground Author:Frank P. Ramsey
“[I attach] little importance to physical size. I don't feel the least humble before the vastness of the heavens. The stars may be large, but they cannot think or love; and these are qualities which impress me far more than size does.” ThinkingFeelsMayLittlesDoeScienceHeavenStarsQualityImportanceSizeHumbleImpressVastness Author:Frank P. Ramsey
