I can imagine no greater catastrophe than if I were…
““I can imagine no greater catastrophe than if I were mistaken, and the theory were correct that what I consider secondary instincts or drives are actually primary instincts! Because in that case the emotional plague would rest upon the support of a natural law while its archenemies, truth and sociality, would be relying upon unfounded ethics. Until now both lies and truth have taken recourse to ethics. But only lies have profited because they were able to appear under the guise of truth. Under these circumstances, egoism, theft, petty selfishness, slander, etc., would be the natural rule. (26.july.1943)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
If secondary drives are actually primary, moral systems become baseless, allowing deceit to masquerade as truth and fostering selfish behavior.
In simple terms: If instincts are primary, ethics are shaky, leading to selfishness.
Key Takeaway
Question the foundations of moral judgments.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
ethics
human nature
truth
deception
Mood
skeptical
provocative
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- academic discussion
- ethical debate
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
instinct hierarchy
moral relativism
social cohesion
Questions to Reflect On
- What would a society look like without universal ethics?
- Can instincts alone guide behavior?
A Different Perspective
Challenging deep‑seated beliefs can be unsettling and may lack empirical support.