More erudite authors who advocate an irrationalist point…
““More erudite authors who advocate an irrationalist point of view, such as the pragmatist philosophers, are not to be caught out so easily. They maintain that there is no such thing as objective fact to which our opinions must conform if they are to be true. For them opinions are merely weapons in the struggle for existence, and those which help a man to survive are to be called “true.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Russell argues that some philosophers deny objective facts, treating opinions as survival tools rather than truth‑seeking claims.
In simple terms: Some claim facts don’t exist, seeing opinions as tools for survival.
Key Takeaway
Question the basis of truth claims.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
relativism
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- political discourse
- media analysis
- personal decision‑making
Key Concepts
pragmatism
survivalism
truth theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports objective facts?
- How do survival needs shape beliefs?
A Different Perspective
Truth claims may be socially constructed, not absolute.