Believe Quote by Raymond Geuss
“Neither the good nor the true is self-realizing, so it is not generally a sufficient explanation of why people believe that X is true, or of why people do Y that Y is good.”
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Idea of the Good” by Raymond Geuss, 2008
Moral and epistemic claims need more than self‑realization; they require external justification.
In simple terms: Being good or true isn’t enough to explain belief or action.
Key Takeaway
Seek reasons beyond personal conviction.
Themes
ethics
epistemology
belief
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- political debate
- academic discourse
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
justification
self‑realization
Questions to Reflect On
- What grounds do you use to judge truth?
- How do you balance personal belief with external evidence?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on self‑realization may ignore objective standards.
![“JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF ATHEISTS ARE BETTER WRITERS THAN THE GUYS WHO WROTE THE BIBLE DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE THEM RIGHT!" [Owen Meany] said crossly. "LOOK AT THOSE WEIRDO TV MIRACLE-WORKERS--THEY'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN MAGIC! BUT THE REAL MIRACLES AREN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN…” quote by John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70e/john-irving-337_atheists_just-because-a-bunch-of-atheists-are-bet_31804.jpg)
