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We have become insensible to the human costs of apparently…

“We have become insensible to the human costs of apparently rational social policies, especially when we are advised that they will contribute to overall prosperity and thus—implicitly—to our separate interests.” quote by Tony Judt
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““We have become insensible to the human costs of apparently rational social policies, especially when we are advised that they will contribute to overall prosperity and thus—implicitly—to our separate interests.””

Tony Judt

About This Quote

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

Highlights moral blindness to human suffering caused by policies framed as rational and prosperous.

In simple terms: Ignore human cost when policies promise prosperity.

Key Takeaway

Remember human impact of policies.

Themes

ethics policy human cost

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • policy analysis
  • advocacy
  • social justice
  • public debate

Key Concepts

political economy moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can policymakers balance prosperity and human dignity?
  • What mechanisms reveal hidden costs?
A Different Perspective

Complex trade‑offs can obscure suffering.

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