There is a class, moreover, by whom all these scientific theories, and more are held as ascertained facts, and as the basis of philosophical inferences which strike at the root of theistic beliefs.
Related quotes
It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
quote by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Facts do not speak for themselves. They speak for or against competing theories. Facts divorced from theories or visions are mere isolated curiosities.
quote by Thomas Sowell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Generally the theories we believe we call facts, and the facts we disbelieve we call theories.
quote by Felix Cohen
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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It will sometimes strike a scientific man that the philosophers have been less intent on finding out what the facts are, than on inquiring what belief is most in harmony with their system.
quote by Charles Sanders Peirce
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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One's Beliefs
Beliefs aren't changed overnight,
Because of misdirection.
Beliefs are changed overnight,
When new ones are created.
Misdirection can be debated,
For reasons to entertain those who make changes.
But one's beliefs as they are...
Are only fed to keep them out of the way.
And kept faithfully attached,
For purposes to serve!
Not to discuss what are facts.
Beliefs aren't changed overnight,
Because of misdirection.
Beliefs are changed overnight,
When new ones are created.
Like one's knowledge of facts...
Depends on who is being pleased.
And for what reasons they've been directed,
To go first down on their knees,
Hoping to find their minds comforted.
And...
Beliefs,
As they are interpreted to be.
Aren't changed overnight,
Because of misdirection.
Beliefs are changed overnight,
When new ones are created.
To please and comfort the converted
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs.
quote by Pete Seeger
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The system becomes more coherent as it is further extended. The elements which we require for explaining a new class of facts are already contained in our system. In false theories, the contrary is the case.
quote by William Whewell
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The process of philosophic and scientific enlightenment has shaken the stability of beliefs held explicitly as articles of faith.
quote by Michael Polanyi
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Show Me Your Beliefs
Your want to take my beliefs,
And enforce upon me yours.
I am fine with that.
However...
Show me where your beliefs,
Have satisfactorily been endorsed.
Show me the facts.
And I will follow you...
Of course.
Show me,
Your beliefs!
And if possible,
Can you do that...
Once you've dismounted,
Off the back of your high horse!
Show me your beliefs,
Without...
Showing me your remorse!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Not One Of My Greatest Attributes
My position has always been,
To present the facts!
With the getting of them out of the way.
To free the air of false pretentions.
But many refuse to see the facts,
For what they are.
And instead wish to embellish their delusions,
With beliefs facts presented...
They can re-invent with a bit of flourishing.
Only to later discover those facts presented to them,
Came from experiences many fantasized do not get.
And being patient is not one of my greatest attributes.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.
quote by Blaise Pascal
Submitted by Veronica Serbanoiu
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We may take it to be the accepted idea that the Mosaic books were not handed down to us for our instruction in scientific knowledge, and that it is our duty to ground our scientific beliefs upon observation and inference, unmixed with considerations of a different order.
It is always incorrect to assume you can know what someone's moral convictions are based on their philosophical theories.
quote by Stanley Fish
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It really is a nice theory. The only defect I think it has is probably common to all philosophical theories. It's wrong.
quote by Saul Kripke
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For us, Marxism is always open because there are always new xperiences, there are always new facts, including facts about the past, which have to be incorporated in the corpus of scientific socialism.
quote by Ernest Mandel
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Philosophical theories or ideas, as points of view, instruments of criticism, may help us to gather up what might otherwise pass unregarded by us.
quote by Walter Pater
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On The Otherhand
The facts are left unapproached.
To acknowledge them would mean,
The facing of mistakes made.
And that for many,
Has never been a prerequisite,
To the obtaining of comprehension.
On the otherhand...
Not that one.
The other one.
You have two.
Most of us do.
The boosting of delusions...
Is celebrated on a daily basis.
To maintain a mind kept entertained,
With beliefs that success is perceived...
As the taking of something not earned.
And easily as it can be done,
From anyone who sacrifices time and effort.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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It is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one's audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though perhaps a meretricious, effect.
quote by Frederick Douglass
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I had some hesitations about philosophy because, if you worked out a philosophical theory, it was hard to know whether you were going to be able to prove it or whether other theories had just as good a claim on belief.
quote by Stephen Cole Kleene
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Real Fiction
There are two kinds of fiction to find…
One in the world and the other in the mind.
When unpleasant things happen for real
With which the real mind is unable to deal,
It creates a world of fiction so it can survive
In order to justify that its unreal beliefs are alive.
These unreal beliefs have a real world all alone
As they deny real facts with data of their own.
Their fiction continues as world events transpire
With interpretation to support beliefs they require.
The world of fiction will collide with the world of real
As its members seek reality, it will lose its appeal.
Unless it dispenses with its delusions of the facts,
It will disappear as it's devoured by the reality it lacks.
poem by Gregory Huyette
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