We have hitherto considered only two possibilities: that…
“We have hitherto considered only two possibilities: that the received opinion may be false, and some other opinion, consequently, true; or that, the received opinion being true, a conflict with the opposite error is essential to a clear apprehension and deep feeling of its truth. But there is a commoner case than either of these; when the conflicting doctrines, instead of being one true and the other false, share the truth between them.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Mill discusses how conflicting opinions can each contain partial truth, suggesting that truth may be distributed between opposing doctrines rather than residing wholly in one.
In simple terms: Opposing views can both hold pieces of truth.
Key Takeaway
Seek synthesis from differing perspectives.
Themes
philosophy
truth
conflict
dialogue
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- debates
- policy making
- scientific theories
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
epistemology
dialectics
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we identify shared truth in conflict?
- What methods help reconcile opposing ideas?
A Different Perspective
Finding common ground can be difficult and may dilute certainty.