“Evolution is a theory in a special philosophical sense of science, but in terms of ordinary laymen's use of language, it's a fact, .. Evolution is a fact in the same sense that it's a fact that the Earth is round and not flat, [that] the Earth goes round the Sun. Both those are also theories, but they're theories that have never been disproved and never will be disproved.” FactsUseEarthLanguageTermSunSpecialTheoryEvolutionOrdinaryPhilosophicalRoundsFlatsLaymanUse Of Language Author:Richard Dawkins
“Each of the parts of philosophy is a philosophical whole, a circle rounded and complete in itself. In each of these parts, however, the philosophical Idea is found in a particular specificality or medium. The single circle, because it is a real totality, bursts through the limits imposed by its special medium, and gives rise to a wider circle. The whole of philosophy in this way resembles a circle of circles. The Idea appears in each single circle, but, at the same time, the whole Idea is constituted by the system of these peculiar phases, and each is a necessary member of the organisation.” WayGivingIdeasRealPhilosophyWholeFoundSpecialParticularLimitsMembersPhilosophicalCirclesMediumsPeculiarPhasesOrganisationTotality Author:Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
“The unphilosophical and philosophical attitudes can be very sharply distinguished (with scarcely any intermediate forms) by the fact that the first accepts everything that happens as regards its general form, and finds occasion for surprise only in that special content by which something that happens here today differs from what happened there yesterday; whereas for the second, it is precisely the common features of all experience, such as characterise everything we encounter, which are the primary and most profound occasion for astonishment.” FirstsFactsHappensTodayFormCommonAttitudeAcceptingHappenedSpecialPhilosophicalRegardSurpriseProfoundYesterdayOccasionsPrimariesFeaturesEncountersDistinguishedAstonishment Author:Erwin Schrodinger
“I think one reason is that philosophers are more insecure to speak accessibly because non-philosophers are skeptical that philosophers have any special expertise. After all, all people - not just philosophers - have attitudes and points of view on various philosophical questions, and they rather resent being told that there are professionals who can think about these things better.” PeopleThinkingReasonSpeakViewsAttitudeSpecialPhilosophicalPhilosopherVariousPoint Of ViewInsecureSkepticalExpertiseResentPhilosophical Questions Author:Rebecca Goldstein
“Earlier in this century, the Heisenberg Principle established that the very act of observing a natural phenomenon can change what is being observed. Although the initial theory was limited in practice to special cases in subatomic physics, the philosophical implications were and are staggering.” NaturalPrinciplesPracticeCasesSpecialCenturyTheoryPhilosophicalPhysicsPhenomenonInitialsObservingImplicationsStaggeringNatural Phenomena Author:Al Gore
“Plotinus, when he thinks about mind or intellect, the Greek word is 'nous', he thinks about something that's very different, it's much more elevated and special, more abstract, you might say more philosophical than the very broad range of mental events that we talk about in contemporary philosophy of mind.” ThinkingMindDifferentPhilosophyMightSpecialEventsPhilosophicalIntellectContemporaryRangeGreekAbstractBroads Author:Peter Adamson
“The question of love is one that cannot be evaded. Whether or not you claim to be interested in it from the moment you are alive you are bound to be concerned with love because love is not just something that happens to you: It is a certain special way of being alive. Love is in fact an intensification of life a completeness a fullness a wholeness of life.” WayPhilosophyMomentsFactsHappensCertainLove IsAliveSpecialConcernedClaimsPhilosophicalBoundsWholenessFullnessCompleteness Author:Thomas Merton
“[T]here is a methodological bias in favor of taking natural discourse literally, other things being equal. For example, unless there are clear reasons for construing discourse as ambiguous, elliptical, or involving special idioms, we should not so construe it.” ShouldReasonNaturalClearSpecialExampleEqualPhilosophicalFavorsBiasDiscourseInvolvingAmbiguousIdiomBeing Equal Author:Tyler Burge
“The revolutionary spirit is mighty convenient in this, that it frees one from all scruples as regards ideas. Its hard absolute optimism is repulsive to my mind by the menace of fanaticism and intolerance it contains. No doubt one should smile at these things; but, imperfect Esthete, I am no better Philosopher. All claim to special righteousness awakens in me that scorn and anger from which a philosophical mind should be free.” ShouldMindIdeasHardSpiritDoubtSpecialRevolutionOptimismClaimsAbsolutesPhilosophicalRegardPhilosopherRevolutionaryNo DoubtRighteousnessImperfectIntoleranceScornRebelliousConvenientFanaticismMenaceScruples Book:A Personal Record Source: A Personal Record