--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The dis-incumbenced stance is the one…" description: "\"The dis-incumbenced stance is the one people should cultivate, we are told, once they recognize that there is no world beyond the human world. They wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-e-cooper-13916_belief_the-dis-incumbenced-stance-is-the-one-pe_3176494.jpg" --- # The dis-incumbenced stance is the one people should… ![“The dis-incumbenced stance is the one people should cultivate, we are told, once they recognize that there is no world beyond the human world. They will, indeed must, have their beliefs and values, but they will recognize that these 'lean upon' - and are answerable to - nothing other than human…” quote by David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-e-cooper-13916_belief_the-dis-incumbenced-stance-is-the-one-pe_3176494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-e-cooper-13916_belief_the-dis-incumbenced-stance-is-the-one-pe_3176494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-e-cooper-13916_belief_the-dis-incumbenced-stance-is-the-one-pe_3176494.jpg) > “The dis-incumbenced stance is the one people should cultivate, we are told, once they recognize that there is no world beyond the human world. They will, indeed must, have their beliefs and values, but they will recognize that these 'lean upon' - and are answerable to - nothing other than human commitments and purposes. The only fidelity, Rorty remarked, can be to our own conventions.” [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human commitments are the only ultimate reference; we must base values on human purposes, not imagined absolutes. **In simple terms:** Our duties stem from human choices, not external worlds. Key Takeaway Anchor ethics in human agreements and purposes. Themes humanism ethical relativism philosophy Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - political theory - personal decision‑making - community building Key Concepts human commitments conventionalism Rorty’s ideas Questions to Reflect On - What human commitments guide your actions? - How do you balance personal values with collective needs? A Different Perspective May overlook universal concerns like environmental stewardship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Beliefs and values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs-and-values/) [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fidelity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fidelity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [It's not in baseball's interest or the players' interest to be taking this stance. 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It stimulates my faith to keep growing day by day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/i-prefer-a-world-with-many-beliefs-and-religions-it-stimulates-my/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Facts do not find their way into the world in which our beliefs reside - they did not produce our beliefs, there, they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/facts-do-not-find-their-way-into-the-world-in-which-our-beliefs/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“We all have a set number of days to indent the world with our beliefs, to find and create the beauty that only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/we-all-have-a-set-number-of-days-to-indent-the-world-with-our-beliefs/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is time that we as Christians recognize that it is our beliefs and our values and our way of life that are under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-r-mains/it-is-time-that-we-as-christians-recognize-that-it-is-our-beliefs-and/) David R. Mains ## More by David E. Cooper > [What impressed me about Plato and Sartre was their conviction that we should live our lives in the light of big truths about reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/what-impressed-me-about-plato-and-sartre-was-their-conviction-that-we/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [The main objection to the 'scientistic' claim that physics describes the world as it is in itself is that you 'can't weed out' the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/the-main-objection-to-the-scientistic-claim-that-physics-describes/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [It's as if, for Schopenhauer and perhaps Kant, the mind is there up and running, equipped with its categories and concepts that it then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/it-s-as-if-for-schopenhauer-and-perhaps-kant-the-mind-is-there-up-and/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [I don't think we should just 'muddle through' and ignore the question of life's meaning. Or better, perhaps, I don't think it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/i-don-t-think-we-should-just-muddle-through-and-ignore-the-question/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [In all great civilizations, garden discourses have belonged to larger discourses about beauty, the good life, the relation of humankind to nature, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/in-all-great-civilizations-garden-discourses-have-belonged-to-larger/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [There is something myopic and stunted in focussing only on the meaning of words and sentences. 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Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [How people make gardens is bound to reflect a way of experiencing the natural world, while at the same time this experience of nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/how-people-make-gardens-is-bound-to-reflect-a-way-of-experiencing-the/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [The focus of environmental ethics should indeed be on the virtues and how these inform our relationship to natural environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/the-focus-of-environmental-ethics-should-indeed-be-on-the-virtues-and/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [For many years, questions about the meaning of life were dismissed as senseless. We were told that life, not being a word or sentence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/for-many-years-questions-about-the-meaning-of-life-were-dismissed-as/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [I'm very sceptical about the prospects for 'big' environmental causes - 'saving the planet', halving the world's population, ending the exploitation of animals, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/i-m-very-sceptical-about-the-prospects-for-big-environmental-causes/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [I think that Asian versions of 'ineffabilism' have an advantage over the best-known Western ones, like Schopenhauer's. They are free from the dualistic image…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/i-think-that-asian-versions-of-ineffabilism-have-an-advantage-over/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [The aim of dis-incumbence is a hubristic one, for it requires confidence in the ability of men and women to live in the belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/the-aim-of-dis-incumbence-is-a-hubristic-one-for-it-requires/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) > [There is no reason at all to think that creatures with very different purposes and concerns would arrive at the scientific image, and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-cooper/there-is-no-reason-at-all-to-think-that-creatures-with-very-different/) [David E. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) [Explore all 48 David E. Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-cooper/) ## More Belief quotes > [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/) [Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/) > [“MIND & GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/) [Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/) > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/) [David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. 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Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/) [J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) [Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The dis-incumbenced stance is the one people should cultivate, we are told, once they recognize that there is no world beyond the human world. 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