There are all kinds of sources of our knowledge; but none has authority ... The fundamental mistake made by the philosophical theory of the ultimate sources of our knowledge is that it does not distinguish clearly enough between questions of origin and questions of validity.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Knowledge sources vary, and mistaking where an idea comes from for whether it is valid is a key philosophical error.
- In plain terms
- Where a idea comes from doesn't mean if it is true.
- What can you take from it?
- Judge ideas on their merit, not their origin.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is this idea true because of who said it?
- How do you verify a claim without knowing its source?
Another view
Origin can sometimes hint at bias that affects validity.
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