 Quote > The most savage controversies ...The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. Continued at top
Owned by Unordained - Created on 06/12/2007 - Never edited 02/25/07 :: Person :: Bertrand Russell11/01/05 :: Folder :: Philosophy & Argumentation 03/15/08 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellThe greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution.  12/15/08 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellEverything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise. 05/20/07 :: Quote :: Friedrich NietzscheThe most perfidious way of harming a cause consists of defending it deliberately with faulty arguments. 01/20/04 :: Reference :: (link) :: Logic and Fallacies01/09/04 :: Quote :: George D. PrenticeMany a writer seems to think he is never profound except when he can't understand his own meaning.  09/08/07 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellIf a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Omar Khayam, 13th century philosopherHe who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child. Teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep. Wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a leader. Follow him. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Aldous HuxleyMost human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Albert EinsteinReality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Napoleon BonaparteHistory is a set of lies that people have agreed upon. 08/26/05 :: Reference :: (link) :: Inside Ronald Reagan02/25/07 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellThere is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action.  02/12/04 :: Quote :: CS Lewis: "The Weight of Glory""To be ignorant and simple now--not to be able to meet the enemies on their own ground--would be to throw down our weapons and betray our uneducated brethren who have, under God, no defense but us against the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered." 02/11/04 :: Reference :: (link) :: Handy Latin Phrases01/30/05 :: Quote :: Chuang-tzuAll men know the utility of useful things; but they do not know the utility of futility.  12/03/03 :: Article :: Tips for making your arguments unbeatable :: Just a few tricks of the trade you might want to avoid picking up, if you care about fairness.11/13/03 :: Quote :: Michael PaineAn important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public. 11/05/03 :: Quote :: Arne TiseliusThe distinction between true and false appears to become increasingly blurred by... the pollution of the language. 10/03/05 :: Quote :: Henry KissingerWe must learn to distinguish morality from moralizing. 10/03/03 :: Reference :: (link) :: Godwin's Law09/04/03 :: Quote :: Albert EinsteinIf most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Aldous HuxleyFacts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: BerliozTime is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. 08/27/05 :: Quote :: Mark TwainIf it is a Miracle, any sort of evidence will answer, but if it is a Fact, proof is necessary. 08/01/05 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonShake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.
06/09/05 :: Quote :: [unspecified]The more we disagree, the more chance there is that at least one of us
is right. 05/20/04 :: Article :: Holding back :: Laws are only for the lawful?03/23/05 :: Quote :: Dale HancheyNever be too proud to steal a good idea. 03/12/04 :: Quote :: Victor HugoAn invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.
(Translated from "On résiste à l'invasion des armées; on ne résiste pas à l'invasion des idées.") 02/25/07 :: Quote :: Bertrand RussellMost people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do so. 01/09/04 :: Reference :: (link) :: How to deconstruct almost anything 11/09/03 :: Article :: Horseshoes and Handgrenades :: "Close enough" to what?11/08/06 :: Quote :: Thomas JeffersonIn matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Edna St. Vincent MillayUpon this gifted age, in its dark hour,
Rains from the sky a meteoric shower
Of facts . . . they lie unquestioned, uncombined.
Wisdom enough to leech us of our ill
Is daily spun; but there exists no loom
To weave it into fabric. 09/04/03 :: Quote :: Sam BrownNever offend people with style when you can offend them with substance. 03/03/04 :: Reference :: (link) :: Arguments for the Existence of God and their Refutation02/11/05 :: Quote :: Bjarne StroustrupCuriously enough, the volume of interest and public debate is often inversely proportional to the importance of a feature. The reason is that it is much easier to have a firm opinion on a minor feature than on a major one; minor features fit directly into the current state of affairs, whereas major ones - by definition - do not.
[Editor's note: while this was in the context of C++ language featur [...] 02/02/04 :: Article :: I'm thinking in plaid! :: We strive to make sure our editorials are as trendy as we can.01/17/05 :: Reference :: (link) :: Jon Stewart on Crossfire |
