“It is commonly said that if rational argument is so seldom the cause of conviction, philosophical apologists must largely be wasting their shot. The premise is true, but the conclusion does not follow. For though argument does not create conviction, the lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.” IfsMayDoeSaidShowsSeemsBeliefCausesAbilityShotsArgumentPhilosophicalClimateConvictionRationalConclusionAbandonedPremises Author:Austin Farrer
“We must not leap to the fatalistic conclusion that we are stuck with the conceptual scheme that we grew up in. We can change it, bit by bit, plank by plank, though meanwhile there is nothing to carry us along but the evolving conceptual scheme itself. The philosopher's task was well compared by Neurath to that of a mariner who must rebuild his ship on the open sea.” WellsBitsSeaGrewGrew UpTasksPhilosophicalPhilosopherStuckShipsConclusionEvolveLeapSchemesMariners Author:Willard Van Orman Quine
“Imagine a person who comes in here tonight and argues 'no air exists' but continues to breathe air while he argues. Now intellectually, atheists continue to breathe - they continue to use reason and draw scientific conclusions [which assumes an orderly universe], to make moral judgments [which assumes absolute values] - but the atheistic view of things would in theory make such 'breathing' impossible. They are breathing God's air all the time they are arguing against him.” PersonsReasonGodUseValuesUniverseReligiousViewsMoralImagineImpossibleAirAtheismTheoryJudgmentDrawsAbsolutesPhilosophicalAssumingAtheistBreatheArguingConclusionBreathingMinistersJudgementTonightOrderlyAtheisticCore ValuesApologeticMoral JudgmentAnti Atheist Author:Greg L. Bahnsen
“If we wish to draw philosophical conclusions about our own existence, our significance, and the significance of the universe itself, our conclusions should be based on empirical knowledge. A truly open mind means forcing our imaginations to conform to the evidence of reality, and not vice versa, whether or not we like the implications.” IfsShouldMindMeanRealityUniverseWishImaginationExistenceDrawsEvidencePhilosophicalVicesConclusionSignificanceConformOpen MindImplicationsVice Versa Book:A Universe From Nothing Source: A Universe From Nothing
“I started philosophy looking for answers. But along the way I came to prize exploring the questions. Progress in philosophy consists, I think, in a clearer delineation of the conceptual options, not in reaching determinate conclusions.” ThinkingWayPhilosophyAnswersProgressPhilosophicalConclusionReachingPrizeExploring Author:Kwame Anthony Appiah
“The terminology of philosophical art is coercive: arguments are powerful and best when they are knockdown, arguments force you to a conclusion, if you believe the premisses you have to or must believe the conclusion, some arguments do not carry much punch, and so forth. A philosophical argument is an attempt to get someone to believe something, whether he wants to beleive it or not. A successful philosophical argument, a strong argument, forces someone to a belief.” IfsWantBelieveArtBeliefStrongForcePowerfulSuccessfulArt IsArgumentPhilosophicalConclusionIf You BelieveTerminology Book:Philosophical Explanations Source: Philosophical Explanations
“When it comes to the origin of life there are only two possibilities: creation or spontaneous generation. There is no third way. Spontaneous generation was disproved one hundred years ago, but that leads us to only one other conclusion, that of supernatural creation. We cannot accept that on philosophical grounds; therefore, we choose to believe the impossible: that life arose spontaneously by chance!” WayYearsBelieveTwoChanceAcceptingImpossibleGenerationsCreationPossibilityHundredYears AgoThirdsPhilosophicalConclusionSpontaneousOrigin Of Life Author:George Wald