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If I go for the alternative which is false, then obviously…

“If I go for the alternative which is false, then obviously I shall be in error; if I take the other side, then it is by... chance that I arrive at the truth, and I shall still be at fault… In this incorrect use of free will may be found the privation which constitutes the essence of error.” quote by Rene Descartes
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“If I go for the alternative which is false, then obviously I shall be in error; if I take the other side, then it is by... chance that I arrive at the truth, and I shall still be at fault… In this incorrect use of free will may be found the privation which constitutes the essence of error.”

Rene Descartes

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choosing a false path leads to error; even correct choices involve chance, highlighting free will’s role in error.

In simple terms: Wrong choices cause error; chance affects truth.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions about truth.

Themes

philosophy error free will

Mood

thoughtful skeptical

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

  • moral responsibility
  • uncertainty

Key Concepts

decision making logic epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you assess truth?
  • What limits free will?
A Different Perspective

Truth may be elusive.

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