Burge, Tyler

Philosopher American Born 1946 (age 80)

Developed externalism about mental content and knowledge.

387 quotes

"Probabilistic reasoning is the rational response to uncertainty, not a sign of ignorance."
Truth
"Bayesian updating provides a model of how rational creatures should revise beliefs."
Philosophy
"Yet human cognition frequently deviates from Bayesian ideals in systematic ways."
Wisdom
"These deviations are not always irrational but may reflect adaptive algorithms."
Science
"Heuristics simplify decision-making and often work better than exhaustive analysis."
"Fast and frugal methods succeed where complex calculations would overwhelm us."
Work
"Intuition, when trained through experience, can be remarkably accurate."
Knowledge
"Expertise consists partly in rapid pattern recognition that bypasses conscious reasoning."
"Expert intuition deserves respect but also critical scrutiny and verification."
"The relationship between deliberation and intuition is one of partnership."
Wisdom
"Conscious reasoning excels at novel problems that require explicit representation."
Creativity
"Unconscious processes handle routine decisions more efficiently than conscious effort."
Peace
"Flow states emerge when challenge and skill are well-matched."
Happiness
"Automaticity is not mindlessness but a sophisticated achievement of development."
"Attention is a scarce resource that must be allocated strategically."
Wisdom
"What we attend to shapes what we remember and what we are capable of understanding."
Knowledge
"Distraction impoverishes cognition by fragmenting our engagement with the world."
"Deep learning requires sustained attention over extended periods of time."
Perseverance
"Multitasking degrades performance in complex cognition by preventing depth of processing."
Work
"The illusion of competence makes us overestimate our knowledge when it is superficial."
"Testing is not just assessment but a powerful tool for learning and retention."
Education
"Struggle and effort during learning are not signs of failure but of progress being made."
Courage
"Intellectual growth requires regularly confronting the limits of what we currently understand."
Change
"Intentionality in language reveals the structure of thought itself."
Philosophy
"The mind extends beyond the skull when properly contextualized."
Knowledge
"Understanding requires grasping both internal states and external content."
Wisdom
"Words anchor thoughts to the world in meaningful ways."
"Cognitive science demands we reconsider what belongs to the mind."
Science
"Reference is not merely psychological; it's fundamentally relational."
Truth
"The distinction between semantics and syntax proves artificial."
Philosophy