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About this quote

What does it mean?
Carlin highlights the logical fallacy in attributing psychic ability to someone with heightened other senses.
In plain terms
If Helen Keller used touch and sound more, calling it a fourth sense ignores how senses work.
What can you take from it?
Be careful with how you define human abilities.

Where it applies

  • debating abilities
  • analyzing language
  • casual inquiry

Putting it to work

  • spotting logical gaps
  • clarifying terms
  • prompting thought

Questions to consider

  • How do we define senses?
  • When does language mislead?

Another view

It might unintentionally diminish Helen Keller's real achievements.

More from George Carlin

  1. If Frank Sinatra owed you a favor, you should ask him to have one of his buddies kill Andy Williams.

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  2. What year did Jesus think it was?

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  3. George Washington's brother, Lawrence, was the Uncle of Our Country.

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