Ernest Andre Gellner Quotes

Logic works, metaphysics contemplates.

I see philosophy as a fairly abstract activity, as concerned mainly with the analysis of criticism and concepts, and of course most usefully of scientific concepts.

Many scientists think that philosophy has no place, so for me it's a sad time because the role of reflection, contemplation, meditation, self inquiry, insight, intuition, imagination, creativity, free will, is in a way not given any importance, which is the domain of philosophers.

Philosophy can only be approached with the most concrete comprehension.

Rightly defined philosophy is simply the love of wisdom.

Logic is not a body of doctrine, but a mirror-image of the world. Logic is transcendental.

I was interested in philosophy before I knew I was. That's to say, when I was at school, I used to argue with my friends about issues that turned out to be philosophical ones of some kind.

Philosophy teaches you to think big.

Philosophy ... should not pretend to increase our present stock, but make us economists of what we are possessed of.

Analytical philosophy was very interesting. It always struck me as being very interesting and full of tremendous intellectual curiosities. It is wonderful to see the mind at work in such an intense manner, but, for me, it was still too far removed from my own issues.

Philosophy's work is finding the shortest path between two points.

Philosophy is the thoughts of men about human thinking, reasoning and imagining, and the real values in human existence.

Philosophy ... bears witness to the deepest love of reflection, to absolute delight in wisdom.

What I always liked about Socrates was his insistence on questioning things for the sake of reaching some sort of clarity - even if it is only clarity about the gaps in our knowledge.

Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.

I'm taking a philosophy class and regretting it with everything in me. I'm taking one college class per semester. Philosophy is studying what you already know and dismantling it. I thought it would be right up my alley. I can't tell you how much it's not me.

I discovered philosophy in my youth when I read 'wildly,' and thus I was exposed to the world of ideas.

You know, I've taught philosophy for years and one argues in the hypothetical all the time.

I took all the philosophy courses I could.

I'd love to go back to school for philosophy. I love philosophy, so I'm always reading philosophy books, annoying my girlfriend with that type of stuff.

Philosophy is an attempt by man to find cause and effect. Religion has the same goal.

The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it.

Philosophy, most broadly viewed, is the critical survey of existence from the standpoint of value.

You can't do without philosophy, since everything has its hidden meaning which we must know.

A philosopher once said, 'Half of good philosophy is good grammar.'