P. F. Strawson Quotes

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The fact is that no man can understand a sentence or a paragraph in a book of philosophy unless he already has, more or less, the opinions that the book is intended to elucidate and defend."

This quote by P. F. Strawson suggests that readers' prior philosophical beliefs significantly impact their ability to comprehend and interpret philosophical texts. In other words, a reader needs to share or be familiar with the underlying assumptions or viewpoints presented in the philosophy book for them to understand it effectively. The quote implies that understanding comes from a shared perspective, which can make philosophy challenging for those who do not initially align with its principles.

"There are two sorts of truth: wandering truth and home truth. Wandering truth roams about in the world seeking for the company of free men. Home truth sits on the hearth and mind of every decent family, and is known by every one of its members without his needing to utter it."

This quote by P.F. Strawson differentiates between two types of truth: "wandering truth" and "home truth." Wandering truth represents ideas or knowledge that are open for debate, exploration, and discussion among free individuals. It's the kind of truth one might encounter in academic or philosophical discourse. Home truth, on the other hand, refers to widely accepted values, morals, and beliefs within a particular community or family. These insights are intuitively understood by members without needing to be explicitly articulated. In essence, Strawson is suggesting that there are two distinct realms of knowledge: one that travels and seeks understanding among different people, and another that resides within the heart and mind of communities and families.

"The philosophers' conception of the self and the person are not conceptions of the same thing."

P.F. Strawson suggests that philosophers have two distinct concepts when referring to the "self" and the "person". The self, in this context, is an internal, subjective experience of one's own identity. It often deals with private aspects such as thoughts, feelings, and consciousness. On the other hand, the person refers to the external, objective aspect of one's identity that can be observed and described, encompassing roles, relationships, and behaviors in society. In essence, Strawson is highlighting that the self and the persona are interconnected but have different perspectives - subjective and objective - when examining individual identity.

"If you ask me what justifies belief in this or that proposition, I reply: social conditions of some kind justify (or explain) beliefs; but no belief can justify itself."

This quote by P.F. Strawson highlights the idea that beliefs are influenced by social conditions rather than being self-justifying. In simpler terms, our beliefs are shaped by factors such as culture, education, community norms, etc., but no belief can validate or prove itself independently. Instead, it's the evidence and arguments supporting a belief that provide justification, not the belief itself.

"If there is such a thing as moral difference, it must be possible for me to conceive of one action as morally right and another as morally wrong; but if I can do this, then it must be possible for me also to conceive of a state of affairs in which the action I think wrong would not have been wrong, and the action I think right would not have been right."

This quote by P. F. Strawson highlights the ability of individuals to morally judge actions as 'right' or 'wrong'. The essence is that if one can perceive an action as morally incorrect (wrong), they must also be able to imagine a hypothetical situation where that same action would not have been wrong. In other words, Strawson argues that moral judgment involves understanding the context-dependent nature of right and wrong actions. This perspective underscores the importance of empathy, open-mindedness, and flexibility in considering different ethical viewpoints.