Alternatives Quote by John Carroll
“Men become utilitarian out of fear of the alternative the chaos of tangled or tepid desires, of rootlessness and boredom.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Philosophy of Modern Life, 2018
Fear of chaos drives people toward utilitarianism, seeking order over restless desires and boredom.
In simple terms: Fear of disorder pushes us to choose practicality.
Key Takeaway
Embrace uncertainty to avoid rigid conformity.
Themes
philosophy
psychology
society
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
philosophical
analytical
When to use this quote
- political decision making
- personal life choices
- creative pursuits
Key Concepts
utilitarianism
existentialism
desire
Questions to Reflect On
- What freedoms might you gain by tolerating some chaos?
- When does utilitarianism become limiting?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on order can suppress individuality and creativity.
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![“Now that practical skills have developed enough to provide adequately for material needs, one of these sciences which are not devoted to utilitarian ends [mathematics] has been able to arise in Egypt, the priestly caste there having the leisure necessary for disinterested research.” quote by Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2ee/aristotle-78_able_now-that-practical-skills-have-developed_114834.jpg)
![“The garden [of Eden] is the realm of pure beauty from which man is expelled when he becomes interested in ethics, in the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The return into paradise, the homecoming, depends on him penetrating the veils of morality to glimpse again the lineaments of…” quote by John Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e74/john-carroll-16284_beauty_the-garden-of-eden-is-the-realm-of-pure_669813.jpg)
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![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
