Philosophers Quote by Christine M. Korsgaard
““On the other hand, when I think of other philosophers who have spent their lives developing some system, and I admire their work even though I disagree with it, I think of them as the guardians of some set of ideas and lines of thoughts that philosophers through time have found it fruitful and illuminating to think through. That seems to me a valuable thing to do, even if in the end I don’t think their views are right. But it’s a little hard to think of one’s own work in that way. After all, I believe the things that I believe.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays in Moral Philosophy, Christine M. Korsgaard, 2009
Respecting philosophical traditions is valuable even when you disagree, because it preserves ideas that have proven useful over time.
In simple terms: Value past ideas even if you reject them.
Key Takeaway
Study opposing views to sharpen your own.
Themes
philosophy
intellectual humility
tradition
critical thinking
Mood
thoughtful
respectful
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic research
- teaching
- public debate
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
guardianship
idea preservation
dialogue
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance respect for tradition with personal conviction?
- What benefits arise from engaging with disagreeable ideas?
A Different Perspective
Opposing views may be outdated or misleading.
![“Their [philosophers] thinking is, in fact, far less a discovery than a re-recognizing, a remembering, a return and a home-coming to a far-off, ancient common-household of the soul, out of which those ideas formerly grew: philosophizing is so far a kind of atavism of the highest order.” quote by Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8a4/friedrich-nietzsche-15_philosopher_their-philosophers-thinking-is-in-fact-f_2781328.jpg)
