When we wish to follow the man, we find the reasons.
Nov 222017
Thinking
Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle — they are strictly limited in number, require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments.
—Whitehead
Oct 312017
Primitive irrationality is to refuse to refer actions and sentiments to abstract principle; decadent irrationality is to insist on it.
Oct 242017
Our idea that beliefs, in themselves, can make one virtuous — what is it but grace by faith?
Oct 202017
What is provably false is generally trivial.
Sep 182017
A class of failed disciplines — psychiatry, education, macroeconomics — unable to raise the mean, lower the variance and declare victory.
Sep 122017
What politicians say about science is as silly as what scientists say about politics.
Sep 062017
Placebo is most of medicine, and nocebo is most of philosophy.
Aug 142017
Everyone is conservative about what he understands, and ought to be about what he does not.
Aug 072017
Humans have improved modestly in acquiring knowledge but vastly in transmitting it.
Jul 042017
Reasonable, adj. Good at thinking of reasons.