Facts Quote by Terry Eagleton
““All of our descriptive statements move within an often invisible network of value-categories, and indeed without such categories we would have nothing to say to each other at all. It is not just as though we have something called factual knowledge which may then be distorted by particular interests and judgements, although this is certainly possible; it is also that without particular interests we would have no knowledge at all, because we would not see the point of bothering to get to know anything. Interests are constitutive of our knowledge, not merely prejudices which imperil it. The claim that knowledge should be 'value-free' is itself a value-judgement.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Politics of Knowledge, Terry Eagleton, 2015
Our statements are shaped by underlying value categories; knowledge is not neutral but formed by interests and judgments.
In simple terms: Knowledge is influenced by values and interests, not purely objective.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and question the values behind what you claim as knowledge.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
values
language
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- media analysis
- policy making
- education
- public debate
Key Concepts
value theory
social construction
critical theory
Questions to Reflect On
- What values shape your understanding of a topic?
- How can we identify hidden interests in knowledge claims?
A Different Perspective
Assuming values are hidden can obscure bias.
