Accepting Quote by Julian Baggini
“In the case of Donald Trump I think you've got to accept that a lot of what's going on in political discourse is based upon judgement. How the economy works - how people work - what will come to pass - what will not come to pass - what is possible - what is not possible. There is this whole modal dimension. There's a lot in politics that is making a judgement about what might be and can be and would be. Trump frightens a lot of people but there is a bizarre possible world in which it turns out as he's vindicated, though most of us think the evidence is against it.”
About This Quote
The quote highlights how political discourse often relies on judgments about possibilities, potential outcomes, and the limits of what can happen, using Trump as an example of divergent expectations.
In simple terms: Politics is driven by judgments about what could happen.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the role of judgment in political analysis.
Themes
politics
judgment
possibility
uncertainty
perception
Mood
analytical
critical
skeptical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- election forecasting
- policy debate
- media commentary
- public opinion formation
Key Concepts
modal reasoning
cognitive bias
scenario analysis
Questions to Reflect On
- How do our own judgments shape our view of political events?
- What mechanisms can improve objective assessment in politics?
A Different Perspective
Judgments can be clouded by personal bias and incomplete information.
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![“I've said to [Donald Trump], and I think others have said to him that the day that he is the President of the United States, there are world capitals and financial markets and people all around the world who take really seriously what he says, and in a way that's just not true before you're…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/389/barack-obama-17_around-the-world_i-ve-said-to-donald-trump-and-i-think-ot_171727.jpg)
