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About this quote

What does it mean?
All reasoning ultimately rests on unproven assumptions.
In plain terms
Even strong beliefs start with unproven ideas.
What can you take from it?
Accept that foundations are not absolute.

Where it applies

  • academic research
  • scientific method
  • everyday reasoning

Putting it to work

  • questioning assumptions
  • building trust

Questions to consider

  • What do you believe without proof?
  • Where does your certainty come from?

Another view

It challenges the certainty of knowledge.

More from Ludwig Wittgenstein

  1. 225. What I hold fast to is not one proposition but a nest of propositions.

    Permalink to quote #65
  2. 310. A pupil and a teacher. The pupil will not let anything be explained to him, for he continually interrupts with doubts, for instance as to the existence of…

    Permalink to quote #67
  3. 206. If someone asked us 'but is that true?' we might say 'yes' to him; and if he demanded grounds we might say 'I can't give you any grounds, but if you learn…

    Permalink to quote #64

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