Michelle Dean Quotes

Philosophy has to be enquiring; it can take nothing on faith, and its methods are based not on the blind acceptance of authority, but on establishing truths by reason and argument.

My job is to write opinions. I decide cases and write opinions. It is not to respond to idiocy and critics who make statements that are unfounded. That doesn't mean that people shouldn't have constructive criticisms, but it should be constructive.

If I read the word 'problematize' one more time, I'm going to vomit.

It doesn't stand up to huge intellectual scrutiny.

I like reading things where someone's looked at what I do with some honesty, and maybe been challenged by it, and they have something to say that shows they've thought about it, even if they don't necessarily like it.

I enjoy a good reasoned argument. I love the power of logic.

Some people spend their time reasoning and thinking out everything, and so anything that cannot be fully understood, they will not accept. We call these people 'intellectuals.'

To be a real philosopher all that is necessary is to hate some one else's type of thinking.

I read books like mad, but I am careful to to let anything I read influence me.

I like the concept of teenagers and philosophy.

Critics reach that age when it is as valuable and daring to hold a negative opinion as it is for a positive. We learn and understand from both.

How do I respond to criticism? Critically. I listen to all criticism critically.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.

It really is a nice theory. The only defect I think it has is probably common to all philosophical theories. It's wrong.

Academics don't normally manage to alter people's way of thinking through their strength of argument.

The most important function of the university in an age of reason is to protect reason from itself.

Mostly, I try to take a rational approach to life.

There is such a polarized discussion of economics among people like analysts, columnists, bloggers; often, they end up just saying that views other than their own should not even be discussed. I find that frustrating. There is no intellectual progress without considering lots and lots of different views.

The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.

Students need to learn how to think critically, how to argue opposing ideas. It is important for them to learn how to think. You can always cook.

All that I say is, examine, inquire. Look into the nature of things. Search out the grounds of your opinions, the for and against. Know why you believe, understand what you believe, and possess a reason for the faith that is in you.

Again, both literature and philosophy work by appealing to certain reigning idols.

When we reason upon general subjects, one may justly affirm, that our speculations can scarce ever be too fine, provided they be just.

I don’t attack people. I attack ideas. And some very good people can have some very bad ideas.

Ron Paul is very smart, so I don't want to talk to him too long for fear that he will convince me.