"'Pure experience' is the name I gave to the immediate flux of life which furnishes the material to our later reflection with its conceptual categories"
- William James
About this Quote
William James is referring to the concept that our experiences in life are the raw product that our minds utilize to form our thoughts and beliefs. He is recommending that our experiences are the foundation of our understanding of the world. He calls this "pure experience" because it is the unprocessed, unfiltered experience of life. He thinks that our minds use this raw material to form our thoughts and beliefs, which our reflection and conceptual classifications are based on this experience. This quote suggests that our experiences are the basis of our understanding of the world, and that our thoughts and beliefs are formed from this experience. It also indicates that our reflection and conceptual categories are based upon our experiences. This quote is an essential pointer that our experiences are the foundation of our understanding of the world, which our thoughts and beliefs are formed from this experience.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"