Julian Baggini Quotes

It is not rational to assume, without evidence, that rationality can disclose everything about the world, just because it can disclose some things. Our intuition in favour of rationality, where we are inclined to use it, is just that - an intuition. Reason is founded in intuition and ends in intuition, like a pair of massive bookends.

The logic of validation allows us to move between the two limits of dogmatism and skepticism.

Knowledge consists in understanding the evidence that establishes the fact, not in the belief that it is a fact.

Knowledge is justified belief.

Logic is the technique by which we add conviction to truth.

The scientist insists on verification; the religious theologian does not; the philosopher sometimes does and sometimes does not

Truth is about propositions. When it comes to determining truth, it is vital to understand the methods used by individuals in asserting propositions.

Logic is pointless.

Logic works, metaphysics contemplates.

If you believe you are right, then you should believe that you can make the case that you're right. This requires you to deal with serious objections properly.

Good argument is intended to persuade another.

Namely, we have no right to believe a thing true because everybody says so unless there are good grounds for believing that some one person at least has the means of knowing what is true, and is speaking the truth so far as he knows it.

Every single university student should study philosophy. You need to lead the examined life and question your beliefs. If you don't learn critical thinking, then political debate degenerates into a contest of slogans.

I graduated with a B.A. in philosophy, and it was by far the best major I could have taken in college.

Yes, I have a philosophy, and you have to come with good arguments to change that philosophy, but, if someone has a better argument than me, then I will change.

If someone doesn’t value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide that proves they should value evidence. If someone doesn’t value logic, what logical argument would you invoke to prove they should value logic?

Finding bad reasons for what one believes for other bad reasons - that's philosophy.

Logic is the art of making truth prevail.

All reasoning ends in an appeal to self-evidence.

A train of thought is never false. The falsehood lies deep in the necessities of existence.

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.

I am aware that a philosopher's ideas are not subject to the judgment of ordinary persons, because it is his endeavour to seek the truth in all things, to the extent permitted to human reason by God.

A proof is a proof. What kind of a proof? It's a proof. A proof is a proof. And when you have a good proof, it's because it's proven.

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.

Logic teaches rules for presentation, not thinking.