Farce Quote by Jacques Monod
“One of the great problems of philosophy, is the relationship between the realm of knowledge and the realm of values. Knowledge is what is; values are what ought to be. I would say that all traditional philosophies up to and including Marxism have tried to derive the "ought" from the "is." My point of view is that this is impossible, this is a farce.”
About This Quote
It argues that factual knowledge (what is) cannot logically generate moral prescriptions (what ought to be), rejecting the classic is‑ought derivation attempted by many philosophies.
In simple terms: Facts cannot dictate values.
Key Takeaway
Is‑ought gap is unbridgeable.
Themes
epistemology
ethics
philosophy of science
metaphysics
logic
Mood
critical
skeptical
intellectual
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- ethical policy making
- moral education
- political theory
- public discourse
Key Concepts
is‑ought problem
derivation of normativity
philosophical realism
Practical Applications
- ethical analysis
- philosophical critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we justify moral claims without appealing to facts?
- Can values be grounded in human nature?
A Different Perspective
Some argue that empirical findings can inform moral reasoning, though not determine it.
![“The future of mankind is going to be decided within the next two generations, and there are two absolute requisites: We must aim at a stable-state society [with limited population growth] and the destruction of nuclear stockpiles. ... Otherwise I don't see how we can survive much later than 2050.” quote by Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8a7/jacques-monod-18055_aim_the-future-of-mankind-is-going-to-be-dec_738605.jpg)
