"Experience seems to most of us to lead to conclusions, but empiricism has sworn never to draw them"
- George Santayana
About this Quote
This quote by George Santayana is a commentary on the distinctions in between experience and empiricism. Experience is the knowledge acquired through direct observation or involvement, while empiricism is the practice of relying on proof and clinical experimentation to form conclusions. Santayana is suggesting that experience typically leads us to reason, however empiricism is a more dependable source of knowledge and should be relied upon instead. He is highlighting the value of relying on evidence and scientific experimentation to form conclusions, instead of counting on our own experiences. This quote is a suggestion that we should not rely entirely on our own experiences to form conclusions, but instead should utilize evidence and clinical experimentation to form more trusted conclusions.
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