“The learned ignore the evidence of their senses to preserve the coherence of the ideas of their imagination.”
Quote Analysis
In this quote by Adam Smith, he is expressing the idea that those who are knowledgeable or learned often choose to ignore what their senses tell them in order to maintain the consistency of their preconceived notions or beliefs. This implies that rather than being open to new information or experiences, some people prioritize their existing thoughts and ideas, even if they may not align with reality. Smith suggests that this tendency impedes true understanding and growth.
The Need for Empirical Evidence
Adam Smith's quote highlights the tendency of educated individuals to prioritize conceptual frameworks over direct observation. In today's world, with the increasing amount of misinformation and fake news, it is more important than ever to rely on empirical evidence to make informed decisions.
Adam Smith on Ignoring Evidence
"The learned ignore the evidence of their senses to preserve the coherence of the ideas of their imagination." - Adam Smith
Reflection Questions:
As we ponder on the quote by Adam Smith, it prompts us to consider how our preconceived notions and beliefs might cloud our judgement and perception of reality. Reflect on the following questions to delve deeper into this idea:
In what ways have you noticed yourself overlooking evidence from your senses to maintain consistency with your existing beliefs or knowledge?
How might confirmation bias play a role in influencing your interpretation of sensory information?
Can you recall a time when you were confronted with conflicting evidence that challenged your established ideas? How did you react to this situation?
What strategies can you implement to ensure that you are open to considering new evidence and adjusting your beliefs accordingly, even if it means disrupting the coherence of your existing ideas?
Similar quotes
“...but then the general trouble with ignorance is always that the ignorant person has no idea that that's what they are. You can be ignorant and stupid and go through your whole life without ever encountering any evidence against the hypothesis that you're a genius.”
“Imagination is evidence of the divine, and the divine is the imagination of evidence.”
“Books, by imparting a sense of continuity and context, can enlarge the imagination and enable one to weigh evidence, compare and contrast and make important connections--in short to exercise skepticism.”
“Half the business of modern education is taken up in learning not to be ignorant; a process peculiarly unfavorable both to strength of mind and pregnancy of imagination...”
“How I hate ignorance! Caliban’s ignorance, my ignorance, the world’s ignorance! Oh, I could learn and learn and learn and learn. I could cry, I want to learn so much.”