Accounts Quote by Sigmund Freud
“It is unreasonable to expect science to produce a system of ethics-ethics are a kind of highway code for traffic among mankind-and the fact that in physics atoms which were yesterday assumed to be square are now assumed to be round is exploited with unjustified tendentiousness by all who are hungry for faith; so long as physics extends our dominion over nature, these changes ought to be a matter of complete indifference to you.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Civilization and Its Discontents, 1930
Science evolves, making moral systems fluid; ethics shouldn't be tied to scientific facts, and changing scientific views shouldn't dictate moral indifference.
In simple terms: Ethics aren't fixed by science; they should stand apart.
Key Takeaway
Separate moral reasoning from scientific change.
Themes
science
ethics
relativism
knowledge
faith
indifference
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- public discourse
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
philosophy of science
ethical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How should ethics adapt to new scientific understandings?
- Can moral codes remain stable amid scientific change?
A Different Perspective
Overlooking scientific insights can lead to moral stagnation.
