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Quote by Douglas Hofstadter

“I would proclaim that the vast majority of what [say, Scientific American] is true-yet my ability to defend such a claim is weaker than I would like. And most likely the readers, authors, and editors of that magazine would be equally hard pressed to come up with cogent, non-technical arguments convincing a skeptic of this point, especially if pitted against a clever lawyer arguing the contrary. How come Truth is such a slippery beast?”

Quote by Douglas Hofstadter

Work

Metamagical Themas: Questing For The Essence Of Mind And Pattern

This book delves into the intricate relationship between the human mind and patterns, offering a unique perspective on consciousness and the structure of reality. The author combines philosophical insights with scientific theories and personal experiences to create a thought-provoking narrative. more

Author

Douglas Hofstadter
Douglas Hofstadter

Douglas Hofstadter is an American cognitive scientist and writer renowned for his contributions to cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and literature. His research focuses on the nature of thought, the nature of consciousness, and the cognitive differences between humans and machines. more

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“If you have to prove a theorem, do not rush. First of all, understand fully what the theorem says, try to see clearly what it means. Then check the theorem; it could be false. Examine the consequences, verify as many particular instances as are needed to convince yourself of the truth. When you have satisfied yourself that the theorem is true, you can start proving it.”

“In the higher walks of politics the same sort of thing occurs. The statesman who has gradually concentrated all power within himself ... may have had anything but a public motive... The phrases which are customary on the platform and in the Party Press have gradually come to him to seem to express truths, and he mistakes the rhetoric of partisanship for a genuine analysis of motives... He retires from the world after the world has retired from him.”

“It is open to every man to choose the direction of his striving; and also every man may draw comfort from Lessing's fine saying, that the search for truth is more precious than its possession.”