Home / Quotes / Quote by Philip Kitcher

Quote by Philip Kitcher

“In ethics, we don't make progress by discovering pre-existent truths; we do so by solving problems.”

Quote by Philip Kitcher

Author

Philip Kitcher, born on February 20, 1947, is a philosopher, writer, and academic. His research interests are primarily in the fields of philosophy of science, epistemology, and moral philosophy. more

You May Also Like

“Exercise is labor without weariness.”

Exercise Labor Fitness Weariness Physical Exercise

Author:Samuel Johnson

“Because the problems are objective features of the human situation - social animals without the capacities for making social life come easily - ethics is objectively constrained. It's not the case that "anything goes".”

Humans Problem Social Animal Situation Cases Ethics Capacity Objectives Features Social Life Anything Goes

Author:Philip Kitcher

“When I try to outline the history of ethical life, it's sometimes possible to find evidence for a hypothesis about how important transitions actually went. Often, however, that isn't so. There are many facts about human life in the Paleolithic we're never likely to know.”

Knows Trying Humans Important Sometimes Facts Evidence Human Life Ethical Transition Hypothesis Outlines

Author:Philip Kitcher

“I argue against literal interpretation of religious doctrines. Religions make progress when they emancipate themselves from literalism, and take their doctrinal statements to be metaphors or allegories.”

Religious Progress Metaphor Arguing Statements Doctrine Interpretation Literal Allegory

Author:Philip Kitcher

“Refined religion is aimed at realizing ethical values, including the fostering of human lives and human communities.”

Humans Values Realizing Community Including Human Life Ethical Refined Fostering Ethical Values

Author:Philip Kitcher

“Secular humanists should recognize those forms of religion as allies in the struggle for human advancement. They should also learn from them, as they try to build a fully secular world in which people can have the opportunity to live rich and fulfilling lives.”

People World Should Trying Humans Form Opportunity Struggle Rich Allies Secular Fulfilling Advancement Fulfilling Life

Author:Philip Kitcher

“I don't deny that scientific investigation is capable of delivering important truths about nature, but that doesn't stop questions about whether, as it is practiced, science today lives up to its potential for benefiting humanity.”

Important Today Humanity Capable Deny Investigation Delivering Today Life

Author:Philip Kitcher

“If there are to be appropriate judgments about what questions are significant, you need both the informed views of scientists who know what has been achieved and what future developments are promising and the reflective judgments of representatives of different groups who can identify what kinds of information are most urgently needed.”

Ifs Knows Needs Kind Has Beens Different Views Groups Information Development Needed Judgment Scientist Significant Appropriate Representatives Future Development

Author:Philip Kitcher

“My ideal of conversation that includes wide representation of perspectives, informed by the consensus view of current experts, pursued with an attempt to find a position with which all can live, brings the expert and the public dimensions together.”

Together Views Position Perspective Conversation Ideals Currents Wide Experts Dimensions Representation Consensus Pursued

Author:Philip Kitcher

“I'm very concerned about the increasing distortion of research by the intrusion of the market. Universities are beginning to see science as a means of attracting funds.”

Mean Research Concerned University Fund Distortion Intrusion

Author:Philip Kitcher