392 Quotes About Theory

A philosopher's main task is to compulsively filibuster

On a basic level- everything we say- essentially anything that comes out of our mouths is a rationalisation in some form or another

The world is most consistent with purposeful creation.

Moral relativism sounds good in theory but is impossible to practice.

The separation between the Man of Labour and the Instruments of Labout once established, such a state of things will maintain itself and reproduce itself upon a constantly increasing scale, until a new and fundamental revolution in the mode of production should again overturn it, and restore the original union in a new historical form.

That’s a hallmark of good theory: it dispenses its advice in “if-then” statements.

A theory is like medicine (or government): often useless, sometimes necessary, always self-serving, and on occasion lethal. So it needs to be used with care, moderation and close adult supervision.

Pourquoi avais-je espéré qu’ils s’émouvraient de l’ironie pathétique que j’analysais à présent dans une perspective métathéorique ?

In ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’, he said it was a capital mistake to theorize without data, because you ended up twisting facts to suit theories instead of the other way around.