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About this quote

What does it mean?
Russell contrasts science (what we know) with philosophy (what we don’t know).
In plain terms
Science knows, philosophy admits ignorance.
What can you take from it?
Philosophy highlights the limits of knowledge.

Where it applies

  • academic curricula
  • research planning

Putting it to work

  • use philosophy to identify unknowns

Questions to consider

  • Where do science and philosophy overlap?
  • How does philosophy guide scientific inquiry?

Another view

Science also deals with unknowns through hypothesis.

More from Bertrand Russell

  1. Religion is something left over from the infancy of our intelligence; it will fade away as we adopt reason and science as our guidelines.

    Permalink to quote #201
  2. So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.

    Permalink to quote #203
  3. In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.

    Permalink to quote #200

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