Dilemma Quote by T. S. Eliot
““Either everything in man can be traced as a development from below, or something must come from above. There is no avoiding that dilemma: you must be either a naturalist or a supernaturalist.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Dilemma of Man”, 1943
One must choose between naturalistic or supernatural explanations of humanity.
In simple terms: Choose naturalist or supernaturalist view.
Key Takeaway
Commit to a worldview.
Themes
philosophy
existence
belief
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
expository
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- personal belief
- ethical reasoning
Key Concepts
naturalism
supernaturalism
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports your view?
- Can both coexist?
A Different Perspective
Binary framing oversimplifies complexity.
![“the ordinary man's experience is chaotic, irregular, fragmentary. [He] falls in love or reads Spinoza, and these two experiences have nothing to do with each other, or with the noise of the typewriter, or the smell of cooking; in the mind of the poet these experiences are always forming new wholes” quote by T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/18e/t-s-eliot-633_art_the-ordinary-man-s-experience-is-chaotic_93688.jpg)
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