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About this quote

What does it mean?
Philosophy attempts to answer unresolvable problems with confusing explanations.
In plain terms
Philosophy gives hard to understand answers to unsolvable problems.
What can you take from it?
Question if philosophy solves problems or just complicates them.

Where it applies

  • academic debate
  • critical thinking
  • curiosity

Putting it to work

  • simplify complex ideas
  • seek practical solutions
  • embrace uncertainty

Questions to consider

  • Can philosophy solve real problems?
  • Why are answers unintelligible?

Another view

Many find philosophy useful even if answers are not clear.

More from Henry Adams

  1. No man, however strong, can serve ten years as schoolmaster, priest, or Senator, and remain fit for anything else.

    Permalink to quote #41
  2. Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systematic organization of hatreds.

    Permalink to quote #43
  3. No man likes to have his intelligence or good faith questioned, especially if he has doubts about it himself.

    Permalink to quote #40

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