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Philosophical Quotes

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Philosophical Quotes

“Part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians and poets and artists and zoologists and historians who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world.”

Source: Motivating Thoughts of Steve Jobs

“As Eastern thought has begun to interest a significant number of people, and meditation is no longer viewed with ridicule or suspicion, mysticism is being taken seriously even within the scientific community. An increasing number of scientists are aware that mystical thought provides a consistent and relevant philosophical background to the theories of Contemporary science, a conception of the world in which the scientific discoveries of men and women can be in perfect harmony with their spiritual aims and religious beliefs.”

“Scientists themselves are of surprisingly little help. They find it difficult to talk of what they do because they tend to assume detailed knowledge is required for generalities to be understood. They find it hard to grasp the concept of the meaning of their work, assuming this to be a debate that takes place at a lower level than the specialized discussions with their colleagues. When they do generalize, - or "popularize" as it is usually called with a noticeable degree of contempt - they tend to reveal a startling philosophical naiveté.”

Littles Hard Helping Difficult Levels Degrees Understood Concepts Scientist Philosophical Assuming Debate Discussion Contempt Colleagues Generalities Little Help

Book:Understanding the Present: An Alternative History of Science

Source: Understanding the Present: An Alternative History of Science

“A favorite pro-abortion tactic is to insist that the definition of when life begins is impossible; that the question is a theological or moral or philosophical one, anything but a scientific one. Fetology makes it undeniably evident that life begins at conception and requires all the protection and safeguards that any of us enjoy....As a scientist I know, not believe, know that human life begins at conception.”

Knows Believe Humans Enjoy Moral Impossible Scientist Philosophical Definitions Protection Human Life Abortion Conception Evident Tactics Theological Pro Abortion

Author:Bernard Nathanson

“I fully agree with you about the significance and educational value of as well as history and philosophy of science. So many people today - and even professional - seem to me like someone who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest. A knowledge of the historic and philosophical background gives that kind of independence from prejudices of his generation from which most scientists are suffering. This independence created by philosophical insight is - in my opinion - the mark of distinction between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker after truth.”

“It's not just that there is a cooperative spirit of investigation there, where we all recognise that we are engaged in a common project of inquiry. It's also that the philosophers are well-versed in the relevant empirical data, and the scientists are well-versed in the more abstract issues which are typically the central focus of philosophical work.”

Wells Spirit Common Issues Focus Projects Scientist Philosophical Philosopher Data Engaged Abstract Relevant Investigation Inquiry Recognise Cooperatives

Author:Hilary Kornblith

“We should listen to both philosophers and scientists, because the philosophical contribution is different from the scientific contribution, and both of them are worthwhile.”

Should Different Scientist Philosophical Philosopher Contribution Worthwhile

Author:L.A. Paul

“Methodological naturalism gives advice to scientists about what they should include in their theories. There is a second type of methodological naturalism that gives advice to philosophers, which I call "methodological naturalismp." It says that the methods that philosophers should use in assessing philosophical theories are limited to the methods that scientists ought to use in assessing scientific theories.”

Giving Should Use Advice Theory Type Ought Scientist Philosophical Method Philosopher Call Me Naturalism Scientific Theory Assessing

Author:Elliott Sober

“Science will always raise philosophical questions like, is any scientific theory or model correct? How do we know? Are unobserved things real? etc. and it seems to me of great importance that these questions are not just left to scientists, but that there are thinkers who make it their business to think as clearly and slowly about these questions as it is possible to. Great scientists do not always make the best philosophers.”

Thinking Real Scientist Importance Philosophical Philosopher Thinker Great Scientist

Author:Tim Crane

“Man has to awaken to wonder - and so perhaps do peoples. Science is a way of sending him to sleep again.”

Men Way Science Sleep Wonder Scientist Philosophical Awakening

Author:Ludwig Wittgenstein

“As a scientist, I am hostile to fundamentalist religion because it actively debauches the scientific enterprise. It teaches us not to change our minds, and not to want to know exciting things that are available to be known. It subverts science and saps the intellect.”

Knows Want Mind Known Teach Scientist Exciting Philosophical Available Intellect Enterprise Hostile Fundamentalist Sap Exciting Things Fundamentalist Religion

Author:Richard Dawkins

“I shall no doubt be blamed by certain scientists, and, I am afraid, by some philosophers, for having taken serious account of the alleged facts which are investigated by Psychical Researchers. I am wholly impenitent about this. The scientists in question seem to me to confuse the Author of Nature with the Editor of Nature; or at any rate to suppose that there can be no productions of the former which would not be accepted for publication by the latter. And I see no reason to believe this.”

“It is, I think, particularly in periods of acknowledged crisis that scientists have turned to philosophical analysis as a device for unlocking the riddles of their field. Scientists have not generally needed or wanted to be philosophers.”

Thinking Wanted Fields Needed Periods Scientist Philosophical Crisis Philosopher Analysis Devices Riddle Unlocking

Book:The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition

Source: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: 50th Anniversary Edition