Certainty Quote by Cullen Murphy
“In a world of moral certainty, the unthinkable becomes permissible.”
About This Quote
Source Article: "Moral Certainty and Its Discontents", 2018
When people believe morals are absolute, they may justify actions normally seen as unacceptable.
In simple terms: Strong moral certainty can enable harmful actions.
Question assumptions and seek nuance.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- activism
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What beliefs feel unquestionable to you?
- How might doubt improve decisions?
Overconfidence can blind to moral complexity.