On Investigation and Truth

Quotes on Truth

“We ought not be embarrassed to appreciate the truth and obtain it wherever it comes from, even if it comes from races distant and nations different from us.

Nothing should be dearer to the seeker of truth than the truth itself, and there is no devaluation of truth, nor belittling of the one who speaks it or conveys it.”

al-Kindi (805–873), the first Muslim philosopher

 

“The truth, al-Haqq, should be sought for its own sake. And anything that is sought for its own sake, the seeker of which is concerned about nothing except discovering it. . .

. . . Thus the duty of he who investigates the writings of scientists, if learning the truth is his goal, is to make himself an enemy of all that he reads, apply his mind to the core and margins of its content, and attack it from every side. He should also suspect himself as he performs his critical examination of it, so that he may avoid falling into either prejudice or leniency. If he follows this method, then the truths will be unveiled to him and the mistakes and shortcomings of the previous scholars [will] become evident.”

Ibn al-Haytham (965–1039), al-Shukuk ala Batlaymous [Doubts about Ptolemy]

This entry was posted in Epistomology, Philosophy. Bookmark the permalink.