--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as we try to project from the…" description: "\"As long as we try to project from the relative and conditioned to the absolute and unconditioned, we shall keep the pendulum swinging between dogmatism..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/richard-rorty-13909_absolutes_as-long-as-we-try-to-project-from-the-re_1210280.jpg" --- # As long as we try to project from the relative and… ![“As long as we try to project from the relative and conditioned to the absolute and unconditioned, we shall keep the pendulum swinging between dogmatism and skepticism. The only way to stop this increasingly tiresome pendulum swing is to change our conception of what philosophy is good for. But…” quote by Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/richard-rorty-13909_absolutes_as-long-as-we-try-to-project-from-the-re_1210280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/richard-rorty-13909_absolutes_as-long-as-we-try-to-project-from-the-re_1210280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd7/richard-rorty-13909_absolutes_as-long-as-we-try-to-project-from-the-re_1210280.jpg) > “As long as we try to project from the relative and conditioned to the absolute and unconditioned, we shall keep the pendulum swinging between dogmatism and skepticism. The only way to stop this increasingly tiresome pendulum swing is to change our conception of what philosophy is good for. But that is not something which will be accomplished by a few neat arguments. It will be accomplished, if it ever is, by a long, slow process of cultural change - that is to say, of change in common sense, changes in the intuitions available for being pumped up by philosophical arguments.” [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Philosophy swings between dogmatism and skepticism; lasting change requires cultural shift, not just arguments. **In simple terms:** Philosophy needs cultural change, not just debate. Key Takeaway Promote gradual cultural evolution. Themes philosophy culture skepticism dogmatism Mood reflective critical Type theoretical philosophical When to use this quote - education reform - public discourse - academic curricula Key Concepts paradigm shift intellectual history Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms foster cultural shift? - How to balance critique with constructive change? A Different Perspective Cultural change is slow and may resist new ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Common sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-sense/) [Conception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conception/) [Cultural change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultural-change/) [Dogmatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogmatism/) [Intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Skepticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skepticism/) [Slow Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-process/) ## Related quotes > [The logic of validation allows us to move between the two limits of dogmatism and skepticism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ricoeur/the-logic-of-validation-allows-us-to-move-between-the-two-limits-of/) [Paul Ricoeur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ricoeur/) > [Dogmatism and skepticism are both, in a sense, absolute philosophies; one is certain of knowing, the other of not knowing. What philosophy should dissipate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dogmatism-and-skepticism-are-both-in-a-sense-absolute-philosophies/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [A talent for speaking differently, rather than for arguing well is the chief instrument of cultural change,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/a-talent-for-speaking-differently-rather-than-for-arguing-well-is-the/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [“Do not trouble about those who practice philosophy, whether they are good or bad; but examine the thing itself well and carefully. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-trouble-about-those-who-practice-philosophy-whether-they-are/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [As a writer of philosophy, it's good to ask oneself, 'Will I still believe this a week from now, or months, or even years?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/as-a-writer-of-philosophy-it-s-good-to-ask-oneself-will-i-still/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“Poetry and Philosophy (The Sonnet) Good poetry is but philosophy, Good philosophy is but poetry. 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For an answer to the philosophical question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-wittgenstein/in-philosophy-it-is-always-good-to-put-a-question-instead-of-an/) [Ludwig Wittgenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-wittgenstein/) > [This same philosophy is a good horse in the stable, but an arrant jade on a journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-goldsmith/this-same-philosophy-is-a-good-horse-in-the-stable-but-an-arrant-jade/) [Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-goldsmith/) > [“Escoffier, whose philosophy was “Good food is the basis of true happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/escoffier-whose-philosophy-was-good-food-is-the-basis-of-true/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [I am too good for philosophy and not good enough for physics. Mathematics is in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-polya/i-am-too-good-for-philosophy-and-not-good-enough-for-physics/) [George Polya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-polya/) > [A nation that values bad philosophy above good plumbing will have neither good philosophy nor good plumbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/a-nation-that-values-bad-philosophy-above-good-plumbing-will-have/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [Any time and any place can be used to study: his room, a garden, is table, his bed; when alone or in company; morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/any-time-and-any-place-can-be-used-to-study-his-room-a-garden-is/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [My philosophy has always been it's good to learn everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-lebell/my-philosophy-has-always-been-it-s-good-to-learn-everything/) [Gene LeBell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-lebell/) > [Steve Martin said that philosophy is good for comedy because it screws up your thinking just enough, and I agree with that. Being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/steve-martin-said-that-philosophy-is-good-for-comedy-because-it/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) ## More by Richard Rorty > [If I had to lay bets, my bet would be that everything is going to go to hell, but, you know, what else have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/if-i-had-to-lay-bets-my-bet-would-be-that-everything-is-going-to-go/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Truth is simply a compliment paid to sentences seen to be paying their way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/truth-is-simply-a-compliment-paid-to-sentences-seen-to-be-paying/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > ["True" resembles... a compliment paid to sentences that seem to be paying their way and that fit in with other sentences which are doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/true-resembles-a-compliment-paid-to-sentences-that-seem-to-be-paying/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Open-mindedness should not be fostered because, as Scripture teaches, Truth is great and will prevail, nor because, as Milton suggests, Truth will always win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/open-mindedness-should-not-be-fostered-because-as-scripture-teaches/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Philosophy makes progress not by becoming more rigorous but by becoming more imaginative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/philosophy-makes-progress-not-by-becoming-more-rigorous-but-by/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [“There is nothing sacred about universality which makes the shared automatically better than the unshared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/there-is-nothing-sacred-about-universality-which-makes-the-shared/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [I think of an intellectual as just being bookish, being interested in history books, utopian ideas, that kind of thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/i-think-of-an-intellectual-as-just-being-bookish-being-interested-in/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [I illustrate with a quotation from the atheist philosopher Richard Rorty, who died recently and is, I suspect, now having a lengthy conversation with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/i-illustrate-with-a-quotation-from-the-atheist-philosopher-richard/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Academic disciplines are subject to being overtaken by attacks of "knowingness"- a state of mind and soul that prevents shudders of awe and makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/academic-disciplines-are-subject-to-being-overtaken-by-attacks-of/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [There is nothing deep down inside us except what we have put there ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/there-is-nothing-deep-down-inside-us-except-what-we-have-put-there/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [The most important advance that the West has yet made is to develop a secularist moral tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/the-most-important-advance-that-the-west-has-yet-made-is-to-develop-a/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Always strive to excel, but only on weekends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/always-strive-to-excel-but-only-on-weekends/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [Every government, left or right, always engages in moral crusades. What else are they supposed to do? Especially when they make war; any war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/every-government-left-or-right-always-engages-in-moral-crusades-what/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [The world is out there, but descriptions of the world are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/the-world-is-out-there-but-descriptions-of-the-world-are-not/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) > [What sort of world can we prepare for our great grandchildren?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rorty/what-sort-of-world-can-we-prepare-for-our-great-grandchildren/) [Richard Rorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) [Explore all 48 Richard Rorty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rorty/) ## More Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. 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But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [Those are decisions only the Lord will make. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/those-are-decisions-only-the-lord-will-make-i-believe-the-love-of-god/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [The only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The nature of the Absolute is neither perceptible nor imperceptible; and with phenomena it is just the same. 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