“Metaphysics is the finding of bad reasons for what we believe upon instinct; but to find these reasons is no less an instinct.”

— F. H. Bradley , book Appearance and Reality

Appearance and Reality, preface (1893).

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F. H. Bradley 19

British philosopher 1846–1924

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“[…] men are not astonish'd at the operations of their own reason, at the same time, that they admire the instinct of animals, and find a difficulty in explaining it, merely because it cannot be reduc'd to the very same principles. […] reason is nothing but a wonderful and unintelligible instinct in our souls[. ]”

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“In fact the opposition of instinct and reason is mainly illusory. Instinct, intuition, or insight is what first leads to the beliefs which subsequent reason confirms or confutes; but the confirmation, where it is possible, consists, in the last analysis, of agreement with other beliefs no less instinctive. Reason is a harmonising, controlling force rather than a creative one. Even in the most purely logical realms, it is insight that first arrives at what is new.”

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Source: 1910s, Our Knowledge of the External World (1914), p. 21

“Reason and Instinct!”

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How we love to play with words that please our pride;
Our noble race's mean descent by false forged titles seek to hide! <p> For "gift divine" I bid you read the better work of higher brain,
From Instinct diff'ering in degree as golden mine from leaden vein.
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