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Nelson Goodman

Nelson Goodman Quotes

Philosopher

Nelson Goodman was an American philosopher known for his contributions to analytic philosophy and phenomenology. His research involved epistemology, aesthetics, and logic, particularly theories of language, meaning, and knowledge. Goodman's work has had a profound impact on subsequent philosophy and cognitive science.

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All Ifs Agreement Aim Clear Effort Explanation Obscure Simplicity World Accepting

Famous Nelson Goodman Quotes

“We make versions, and true versions make worlds.”

World Creativity Versions

Author:Nelson Goodman

“Any effort... to make the obscure obvious is likely to be unappealing, for the penalty of failure is confusion while the reward of success is banality.”

Effort Rewards Obvious Confusion Penalties Obscure Obscurity Banality

Book:The Structure of Appearance

Source: The Structure of Appearance

“What intrigues us as a problem, and what will satisfy us as a solution, will depend upon the line we draw between what is already clear and what needs to be clarified.”

Needs Problem Lines Clear Depends Solutions Draws Intrigue

Book:Fact, Fiction, and Forecast

Source: Fact, Fiction, and Forecast

“An answer, once found, is dull; and the only remaining interest lies in a further effort to render equally dull what is still obscure enough to be intriguing.”

Stills Enough Lying Found Interest Answers Effort Dull Obscure Intriguing

Book:The Structure of Appearance

Source: The Structure of Appearance

“Rules and particular inferences alike are justified by being brought into agreement with each other. A rule is amended if it yields an inference we are unwilling to accept; an inference is rejected if it violates a rule we are unwilling to amend.”

Ifs Accepting Particular Agreement Yield Rejected Justified Unwilling Inference

Book:Problems and projects

Source: Problems and projects

“If we are ready to tolerate everything as understood, there is nothing left to explain; while if we sourly refuse to take anything, even tentatively, as clear, no explanation can be given.”

Ifs Left Given Understanding Clear Ready Understood Refuse Explanation Tolerate

Book:Fact, Fiction, and Forecast

Source: Fact, Fiction, and Forecast

“For if as scientists we seek simplicity, then obviously we try the simplest surviving theory first, and retreat from it only when it proves false. Not this course, but any other, requires explanation. If you want to go somewhere quickly, and several alternate routes are equally likely to be open, no one asks why you take the shortest. The simplest theory is to be chosen not because it is the most likely to be true but because it is scientifically the most rewarding among equally likely alternatives. We aim at simplicity and hope for truth.”

Ifs Want Trying Firsts Science Courses Asks Theory Prove Scientist Aim Simplicity Chosen Being True Alternatives Explanation Routes Retreat Simplest Surviving Scientific Method

Author:Nelson Goodman

“We aim at simplicity and hope for truth.”

Author:Nelson Goodman

“I am concerned, rather, that there should not be more things dreamt of in my philosophy than there are in heaven or earth.”

Should Philosophy Earth Heaven Concerned Heaven And Earth

Author:Nelson Goodman

“Coming to understand a painting or a symphony in an unfamiliar style, to recognize the work of an artist or school, to see or hear in new ways, is as cognitive an achievement as learning to read or write or add.”

Way Writing School Artist Style Painting Achievement Add New Ways Symphony Unfamiliar Cognitive Learning To Read

Author:Nelson Goodman

“Truth cannot be defined or tested by agreement with 'the world'; for not only do truths differ for different worlds but the nature of agreement between a world apart from it is notoriously nebulous.”

World Different Defined Agreement Tested Different Worlds Worlds Apart

Book:Ways of Worldmaking

Source: Ways of Worldmaking

About the Author

Born: August 7, 1906
Died: November 25, 1998
Known for: Philosopher
Quotes: 11

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Ifs Agreement Aim Clear Effort Explanation Obscure Simplicity World Accepting

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Fact, Fiction, and ForecastRelated source material

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