Frank Jackson Quotes
Frank Jackson is an Australian philosopher, distinguished honorary professor at the Australian National University, and one of the most influential analytic philosophers working in philosophy of mind and metaethics. His 1982 thought experiment of Mary the color scientist, who, having lived her whole life in a black-and-white room, learns something new the first time she sees red, was for many years the most discussed argument against physicalism in the analytic philosophy of mind. The quotes below are attributed to Frank Jackson, organized by topic.
Frank Jackson on Knowledge
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Attributed to Frank Jackson:
“Conceptual analysis is the modest core of analytic philosophy.”
Frank Jackson on Mind
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Attributed to Frank Jackson:
“Mary learns something new on the day she leaves the black-and-white room.”
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Attributed to Frank Jackson:
“Physicalism is the most plausible fallback when our intuitions push the other way.”
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Attributed to Frank Jackson:
“Knowledge of facts is not exhausted by the knowledge of physical facts; that is the original lesson of the knowledge argument.”
Frank Jackson on Truth
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Attributed to Frank Jackson:
“Metaphysics, rightly pursued, opens onto ethics rather than withdrawing from it.”