Not found in any of his writings. Possibly a paraphrase of Karl Popper in Epistemology Without A Knowing Subject (1967): "Scientists try to eliminate their false theories, they try to let them die in their stead. The believer—whether animal or man—perishes with his false beliefs."
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The purpose of thinking is so our thoughts die instead of us.
— Alfred North Whitehead
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The purpose of thinking is so our thoughts die instead of us." in the context of "Not found in any of his writings. Possibly a paraphrase of Karl Popper in Epistemology Without A Knowing Subject (1967): "Scientists try to eliminate their false theories, they try to let them die in their stead. The believer—whether animal or man—perishes with his false beliefs."" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Alfred North Whitehead" (Disputed)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM (15 February 1861 – 30 December 1947) was an English mathematician and philosopher. He is best known as the defining figure of the philosophical school known as process philosophy, which today has found application to a wide variety of disciplines, including ecology, theology, education, physics, biology, economics, and psychology, among other areas.
About Alfred North Whitehead
Alfred North Whitehead, OM (15 February 1861 – 30 December 1947) was an English mathematician and philosopher. He is best known as the defining figure of the philosophical school known as process philosophy, which today has found application to a wide variety of disciplines, including ecology, theology, education, physics, biology, economics, and psychology, among other areas.
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