Carnap, Rudolf

Philosopher-Logician German-American 1891 – 1970

Developed logical positivism and rational reconstruction.

379 quotes

"The verification criterion separates sense from nonsense."
Truth
"Understanding the world requires systematic investigation."
Knowledge
"Philosophy should concern itself with meaningful problems, not pseudo-problems."
Philosophy
"The unity of science depends on a unified conceptual framework."
Science
"Intellectual honesty demands that we follow the logic of our arguments."
Wisdom
"Knowledge grows through the accumulation and organization of confirmed facts."
Knowledge
"The analysis of language is the key to philosophical progress."
Philosophy
"Truth must be grounded in empirical verification."
Truth
"The purpose of conceptual analysis is to clarify our understanding."
Wisdom
"Science advances by replacing vague ideas with precise concepts."
Science
"Philosophy should adopt the methods of logical analysis."
Philosophy
"Meaningful statements are those that can be tested against experience."
Truth
"The pursuit of knowledge is the noblest of human endeavors."
Knowledge
"Clear thinking is the foundation of all wisdom."
Wisdom
"The logical structure of language determines what can be meaningfully expressed."
Philosophy
"Empirical observation combined with logical reasoning yields truth."
Science
"Confusion about language leads to confusion about the world."
Philosophy
"Knowledge without verification is mere speculation."
Knowledge
"The task of the philosopher is to clarify, not to speculate wildly."
Philosophy
"Scientific understanding requires the formulation of testable hypotheses."
Science
"Truth is discovered through careful analysis and systematic inquiry."
Truth
"The advancement of human knowledge is humanity's greatest achievement."
Knowledge
"Wisdom consists in knowing what can be known and what cannot."
Wisdom
"The meaning of concepts is determined by their application in experience."
Philosophy
"Science progresses through the replacement of false theories with better ones."
Science
"Language analysis is the gateway to philosophical understanding."
Philosophy
"The verification of claims is essential to the pursuit of truth."
Truth
"Knowledge requires both the evidence of observation and the rigor of logic."
Knowledge
"The clarification of concepts is the primary task of philosophy."
Wisdom
"Meaningful questions are those that admit of scientific investigation."
Philosophy