Famous quote by Remy de Gourmont

"Two elements are needed to form a truth - a fact and an abstraction"

About this Quote

The quote by Remy de Gourmont, "Two elements are needed to form a truth - a fact and an abstraction", invites a deep expedition of the nature of reality and how it is built. At its core, this declaration shows the interplay between concrete truths and conceptual frameworks that allow us to comprehend and communicate intricate concepts.

Realities are objective realities; they are the building blocks of fact. Truths supply the strong, indisputable structure upon which reality is constructed. In any discourse, a fact is what can be observed, determined, and concurred upon with certainty. For instance, the declaration "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level" is a fact. It is widely acknowledged and can be tested and confirmed through empirical observation.

Abstraction, on the other hand, represents the conceptual layer that provides meaning and interpretation to those facts. It includes drawing basic conclusions from specific circumstances and incorporating them into wider, typically philosophical, understandings. Abstraction allows us to elevate a mere collection of truths into something that reveals much deeper insights about the world around us. For instance, the concept of "justice" can not be selected by a single set of realities; rather, it emerges from myriad examples and interpretations that develop in time.

By integrating facts with abstractions, realities become more than simple information points-- they transform into statements with significance and purpose. This synthesis allows human beings to browse the complexities of life, as it helps in formulating concepts, ideologies, and scientific theories. For example, the theory of gravity is a truth that emerges from observations (facts) and the Newtonian conceptual framework (abstraction).

In philosophical terms, de Gourmont's quote can be seen as stressing the requirement of both empirical evidence and interpretative understanding to truly understand the multifaceted nature of truth. Truth, for that reason, is not fixed but dynamic, shaped continually as brand-new realities are incorporated into existing abstractions, leading to developed understandings and fresh opportunities of inquiry.

About the Author

France Flag This quote is written / told by Remy de Gourmont between April 4, 1858 and September 27, 1915. He/she was a famous Novelist from France. The author also have 19 other quotes.
Go to author profile

Similar Quotes

Deng Xiaoping, Leader
Paramahansa Yogananda
Paramahansa Yogananda, Leader
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore, Poet