There remains the final reflection, how shallow, puny, and imperfect are efforts to sound the depths in the nature of things. In philosophical discussion, the merest hint of dogmatic certainty as to finality of statement is an exhibition of folly. -P.R. preface
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Human efforts to fully understand the nature of reality are inherently limited. Claims of absolute certainty in philosophy are foolish.
- In plain terms
- We cannot fully know everything, and acting sure we do is silly.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid claiming absolute certainty in philosophical matters.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What limits your understanding of reality?
- How do you recognize dogmatic certainty?
Another view
Some fields require practical certainty even if absolute truth is unreachable.
More from Alfred North Whitehead
We think in generalities, but we live in details.
Permalink to quote #73 Not ignorance, but ignorance of ignorance, is the death of knowledge.
Permalink to quote #75 Life is an offensive, directed against the repetitious mechanism of the Universe.
Permalink to quote #72
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