Karl Popper

science art oversimplification

“Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

Popper - knowledge disagreement

"The growth of knowledge depends entirely on disagreement"

—Karl Popper (1902-1994)

theory only possibly problem

“Whenever a theory appears to you as the only possible one, take this as a sign that you have neither understood the theory nor the problem which it was intended to solve.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

knowledge finite ignorance infinite

“Our knowledge can only be finite, while our ignorance must necessarily be infinite.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

differing bits know ignorance equal

“While differing widely in the various little bits we know, in our infinite ignorance we are all equal.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

theory explains everything nothing

“A theory that explains everything, explains nothing”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

game science end test

“The game of science is, in principle, without end. He who decides one day that scientific statements do not call for any further test, and that they can be regarded as finally verified, retires from the game.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

scintific falsifiable reality

“In so far as a scientific statement speaks about reality, it must be falsifiable: and in so far as it is not falsifiable, it does not speak about reality.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

philosophical problem popper wittgenstein scientific

“But are there philosophical problems? The present position of English philosophy - my point of departure - originates, I believe, in the late Professor Ludwig Wittgenstein's doctrine that there are none; that all genuine problems are scientific problems; that the alleged propositions or theories of philosophy are pseudo-propositions or pseudo-theories; that they are not false (if they were false, their negations would be true propositions or theories) but strictly meaningless combinations of words, no more meaningful than the incoherent babbling of a child who has not yet learned to speak properly.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

argument discussion victory progress

"The aim of an argument, or of a discussion, should not be victory, but progress."

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

science art oversimplification discern advantage omit

“Science may be described as the art of systematic oversimplification — the art of discerning what we may with advantage omit.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)

tolerance unlimited intolerance

”Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant.”

― Karl Popper (1902-1994)