A philosopher who is not taking part in discussions is like a boxer who never goes into the ring.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A philosopher who does not engage in debate is ineffective, like a boxer who never fights.
- In plain terms
- Philosophers must argue to prove their worth.
- What can you take from it?
- Engage in debate to test and refine your ideas.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is your philosophy tested against real opposition?
Another view
Some deep thinking happens in solitude, not just debate.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of the discussion.
Permalink to quote #104 A serious and good philosophical work could be written consisting entirely of jokes.
Permalink to quote #106 A man's thinking goes on within his consciousness in a seclusion in comparison with which any physical seclusion is an exhibition to public view.
Permalink to quote #103
Related quotes
Surely it is more interesting to argue about what the truth is, than about what some particular thinker, however great, did or did not think.
David DeutschDavid Deutsch quote #1 Mencius said that human nature is good. I disagree with that.
Xun ZiXun Zi quote #5 But suppose we take the noun 'truth': here is a case where the disagreements between different theorists have largely turned on whether they interpreted this a…
J. L. AustinJ. L. Austin quote #9