Absolute truth Quote by Karl Jaspers
“An ideology is a complex of ideas or notions which represents itself to the thinker as an absolute truth for the interpretation of the world and his situation within it; it leads the thinker to accomplish an act of self-deception for the purpose of justification, obfuscation and evasion in some sense or other to his advantage.”
About This Quote
Source Philosophical Treatise: Existentialism, 1930s
Ideologies become absolute truths, leading to self‑deception and justification.
In simple terms: Ideologies can blind self‑understanding.
Question absolute beliefs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- personal belief systems
- academic study
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence challenges this view?
- How do you guard against self‑deception?
Overgeneralizes all ideologies.