True knowledge of good and evil as we possess is merely…
“True knowledge of good and evil as we possess is merely abstract or general, and the judgment which we pass on the order of things and the connection of causes, with a view to determining what is good or bad for us in the present, is rather imaginary than real.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Our judgments about good and evil are abstract and often imaginary, not grounded in reality.
In simple terms: Moral judgments are often abstract and not real.
Question assumptions about morality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- moral decision making
- policy analysis
- personal values
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a moral judgment real?
- How can we test ethical assumptions?
Abstract judgments can miss concrete consequences.