Quote #29

It would be interesting to see the Behaviorists deny that the writing of a mathematical treatise, or of some new theory of quantum mechanics represents a form of human behavior which they should study. Some day they must face the fact that they have neglected to consider a great many forms of human behavior - the most characteristic forms at that - and that therefore, they could not produce an adequate theory of the nature of the 'human mind'.

More from Alfred Korzybski

  1. ...provided we could define all terms. But this is impossible... We thus see that all linguistic schemes, if analyzed far enough, would dep…
  2. Aristotelian , Euclidian [line, space, length] and Newtonian [speed of light] systems... have a few unjustified infinities too many: when s…
  3. [A Game:] We begin by asking the meaning of every word uttered:Then we ask the meaning of the words used in the definitions and, and this p…
  4. The Non-Aristotelian, Non-Euclidian, and Non-Newtonian trilogy is more general than Aristotelian, Euclidian, and Newtonian trilogy... becau…
  5. We read unconsciously into the world the structure of the language we use. The guessing and ascribing of fanciful, mostly primitive-assumed…
  6. Thus, we see that one of the obvious origins of human disagreement lies in the use of noises for words.
  7. If, in spite of all contrary evidence, or the lack of positive evidence, [a person] holds persistently ... such affective beliefs is seriou…
  8. ...the analogy between the noises we make when these noises do not symbolize anything which exists, and the worthless checks we write when …

All Alfred Korzybski quotes