Absolutism Quote by Alfred Korzybski
““We humans, through old habits, and because of the inherent structure of human knowledge have a tendency to make static, definite, and, in a way, absolutistic one-valued statements. But when we fight absolutism, we quite often establish, instead, some other dogma equally silly and harmful. For instance, an active atheist is psycho-logically as unsound as a rabid theist.””
About This Quote
Human cognition defaults to absolute statements, yet fighting absolutism can create new rigid dogmas; both extremes hinder open thinking.
In simple terms: We tend to think in absolutes, which limits understanding.
Key Takeaway
Seek flexibility, avoid replacing one dogma with another.
Themes
cognition
absolutism
flexibility
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
advice
When to use this quote
- debate
- education
- personal growth
- policy making
- media analysis
Key Concepts
dogma
human nature
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you recognize subtle dogmas?
- What practices foster intellectual humility?
A Different Perspective
New dogmas can be as harmful as old ones.
