Quote by Jostein Gaarder

And although I have seen nothing but black crows in my life, it doesn't mean that there's no such thing as a white crow. Both for a philosopher and for a scientist it can be important not to reject the possibility of finding a white crow. You might almost say that hunting for 'the white crow' is science's principal task.

And although I have seen nothing but black crows in my life,

Summary

This quote emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind and not dismissing the existence of something just because it has not been personally observed or experienced. It highlights that one's limited personal encounters do not invalidate the possibility of an exception or rare occurrence. For philosophers and scientists, maintaining skepticism and actively searching for counterexamples becomes crucial. In this context, finding a "white crow" symbolizes discovering an exception or anomaly, which is seen as the primary objective of scientific exploration.

Topics

Science Philosophy Epistemology

By Jostein Gaarder

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