Foreign language Quote by Karen Armstrong
““in a foreign language. Linguists have called this epistemological law the “principle of charity”; it requires that when we are confronted with discourse that is strange to us, we seek an “interpretation which, in the light of what it knows of the facts, will maximise truth among the sentences of the corpus.”11””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Case for God by Karen Armstrong, 2009
When faced with unfamiliar ideas, we should interpret them generously to maximize truth across perspectives.
In simple terms: Interpret strange ideas charitably to find truth.
Key Takeaway
Adopt charitable interpretation of differing views.
Themes
interpretation
truth
intellectual humility
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- dialogue
- academic research
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
epistemology
principle of charity
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance charity with critical thinking?
- When does generosity hinder truth?
A Different Perspective
Charitable interpretation may overlook harmful doctrines.
