...it would be a very naive sort of dogmatism to assume…
““...it would be a very naive sort of dogmatism to assume that there exists an absolute reality of things which is the same for all living beings. Reality is not a unique and homogeneous thing; it is immensely diversified, having as many different schemes and patterns as there are different organisms. Every organism is, so to speak, a monadic being. It has a world of its own because it has an experience of its own. The phenomena that we find in the life of a certain biological species are not transferable to any other species. The experiences - and therefore the realities - of two different organisms are incommensurable with one another. In the world of a fly, says Uexkull, we find only "fly things"; in the world of a sea urchin we find only "sea urchin things.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Reality is organism‑specific; each species experiences its own unique world, making universal reality impossible.
In simple terms: Each being has its own reality.
Key Takeaway
Recognize multiple perspectives.
Themes
philosophy
ontology
relativism
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
theoretical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- cross‑species research
- cultural studies
- environmental policy
- education
Key Concepts
subjectivity
monadism
ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we respect differing realities?
- What implications does this have for interdisciplinary work?
A Different Perspective
Assuming a single reality can ignore crucial differences.