“What can be called "consciousness of the process of abstraction." That is, consciousness of the fact that out of a virtually infinite universe of possible things to pay attention to, we abstract only certain portions, and those portions turn out to be the ones for which we have verbal labels and categories. What we abstract, i. e., "see," and how we abstract it, or see it, or see it or think about it, is for all practical purposes inseparable from how we talk about it.”
Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1969)
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Neil Postman 106
American writer and academic 1931–2003Related quotes

"Biblical Series III: God and the Hierarchy of Authority" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_GPAl_q2QQ
Lectures, Biblical Lectures

Concepts
Methods of Mathematics Applied to Calculus, Probability, and Statistics (1985)

Stephen Gaukroger (1978). Explanatory structures: a study of concepts of explanation ...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_GPAl_q2QQ "Biblical Series III: God and the Hierarchy of Authority"

Source: The Limits of Evolution, and Other Essays, Illustrating the Metaphysical Theory of Personal Ideaalism (1905), The Limits of Evolution, p.39

in text for catalogue of documenta 7, Kassel, 1982; as cited on collected quotes on the website of Gerhard Richter: on 'Abstract paintings' https://www.gerhard-richter.com/en/quotes/subjects-2/abstract-paintings-7
1980's