"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"
- Charles Sanders Peirce
About this Quote
In this quote, Peirce expresses an issue that theorists are more preoccupied with finding beliefs that line up with their individual worldview or philosophical system, rather than carrying out rigorous and objective investigations into the realities. He recommends that this viewpoint is focused on confirmation bias and is possibly misleading, as it might lead to manipulated conclusions and avoid the discovery of brand-new truths or insights that challenge our existing understanding. Peirce stresses the value of clinical query and critical thinking in uncovering truths, despite whether they align with our beliefs or philosophies. Ultimately, this quote calls for an open-minded and empirical technique to knowledge-seeking, rather than a dogmatic and confirmation-biased one.
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