Etc Quote by Gregory David Roberts
““When we say that this definition of good and evil is objective, what we mean is that it is as objective as we can be at this time, and to the best of our knowledge about the universe. This definition is based on what we know about how the universe works. It is not based on the revealed wisdom of any one faith or political movement. It is common to the best principles of all of them, but it is based on what we know rather than what we believe. In that sense, it is objective. Of course, what we know about the universe, and our place in it, is constantly changing as we add more information and gain new insights. We are never perfectly objective about anything, that is true, but we can be less objective, or we can be more objective.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Talk, 2015
The quote defines objective good and evil as based on current scientific understanding, not faith, while acknowledging limits of knowledge.
In simple terms: Objective morality is based on what we know, not belief.
Key Takeaway
Seek knowledge, stay humble about moral judgments.
Themes
ethics
science
knowledge
humility
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- personal decisions
- interfaith dialogue
Key Concepts
epistemology
relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to be more objective?
- How should we act when knowledge is incomplete?
A Different Perspective
Objective claims can be challenged by new discoveries.
![“Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a [Soviet socialistic] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants, lands, banks, means of transportation, etc., remain untouched there, and, therefore, capitalism in Germany and Italy…” quote by Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/411/joseph-stalin-1734_capitalism_neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-natio_1430.jpg)
