A belief, however necessary it may be for the preservation…
“A belief, however necessary it may be for the preservation of a species, has nothing to do with truth. The falseness of a judgment is not for us necessarily an objection to a judgment. The question is to what extent it is life-promoting, life-preserving, species preserving, perhaps even species cultivating. To recognize untruth as a condition of life--that certainly means resisting accustomed value feelings in a dangerous way; and a philosophy that risks this would by that token alone place itself beyond good and evil.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Truth is secondary to life‑preserving values; falsehood can be useful if it supports survival or species flourishing.
In simple terms: Falsehood can be life‑promoting.
Key Takeaway
Consider usefulness of beliefs over factual accuracy.
Themes
ethics
truth
survival
species
philosophy
Mood
reflective
critical
philosophical
Type
analytical
thought‑provoking
When to use this quote
- political decision making
- environmental policy
- medical ethics
- cultural traditions
- education curricula
Key Concepts
relativism
life‑preservation
value theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When does a false belief become harmful?
- How to balance truth and survival?
A Different Perspective
May justify harmful falsehoods if deemed beneficial; risk of moral relativism.