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Quotes from Labyrinths of Reason — William Poundstone

← All quotes by William Poundstone

5 quotes

The assumption that anything true is knowable is the grandfather of paradoxes.

Labyrinths of Reason (1988)

The best paradoxes raise questions about what kinds of contradictions can occur—what species of impossibilities are possible.

Labyrinths of Reason (1988)

Paradox is thus a much deeper and universal concept than the ancients would have dreamed. Rather than an oddity, it is a mainstay of the philosophy of science.

Labyrinths of Reason (1988)

At a bare minimum, understanding entails being able to detect an internal contradiction: a paradox.

Labyrinths of Reason (1988)

Are there any mythical beasts which aren't simple pastiches of nature? Centaurs, minotaurs, unicorns, griffons, chimeras, sphinxes, manticores, and the like don't speak well for the human imagination. None is as novel as a kangaroo or starfish.

Labyrinths of Reason (1988)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: William Poundstone (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.