Mario Bunge Quotes

Science is morally neutral, but social science shows us that some moral codes are better than others.

All genuine philosophy transcends national boundaries. Patriotic philosophies are just nationalist ideologies.

All philosophers can do is to abstain from helping the aggressors and to enjoin social scientists to tell the truth instead of joining the choir of liars and hypocrites.

All the electronic devices are weakening the social bonds. Sociologists and psychologists should study this serious threat instead of repeating that communication is the cement of society.

Only the stupid and the wicked can fear rational criticism.

The motto of science is not just Pauca but rather Plurima ex paucissimis - the most out of the least.

From a historical viewpoint, religion is just a kind of superstition, and from a political viewpoint it is a tool of social control.

Of course you cannot free yourself from the laws of nature; but the laws of nervous systems are not the same as the physical laws.

Most contemporary philosophers are conservative and eager to keep their jobs.

Original philosophy is always "deviant" or even subversive.

Whereas science elicits changes in order to know, technology knows in order to elicit changes.

In the scientific community you find competent teachers and original researchers, just as in the musical community you find many good performers but very few good composers.

It occurred to me that I had the duty to give society something in exchange for the free education I was getting.

There is a continuum between science and philosophy. As Fichte said (but did not practice), philosophy should be the science of sciences.

Communication accompanies social transactions and can instruct or stultify, mobilize or intimidate, but it is no substitute for production, collaboration and fight.

A democratic state will protect the freedom to hold any beliefs other than those that harm others, such as racism. In particular, it will see to it that no one is harmed just because of her beliefs.

In any event, I don't believe in instant philosophy, because interesting problems take a long time to understand and work out. Just think of the problems of truth and justice.

One should believe only what can be chosen to be true or just. Irrational (or unjustified) beliefs should be avoided because they can have disastrous practical consequences.

I believe that modern science supports free will, in showing that the brain can act spontaneously, not only in response to external stimuli.

Of course much remains to know, but we know how to learn: through scientific research.