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About this quote

What does it mean?
Ethics and science both rely on experience to test truth.
In plain terms
We test right and wrong like we test science.
What can you take from it?
Test your values through experience.

Where it applies

  • moral decision making
  • policy making
  • learning

Putting it to work

  • validating beliefs
  • learning from practice
  • applying experience

Questions to consider

  • How do you know if a rule is right?
  • Does experience change your ethics?

Another view

Some ethical truths may exist beyond direct human experience or testing.

More from Albert Einstein

  1. Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.

    Permalink to quote #181

  2. Truth is what stands the test of experience.

    Permalink to quote #183

  3. Computers are incredibly fast, accurate and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination.

    Permalink to quote #180

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