more on this theme     |     more from this thinker


Single Idea 14872

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism ]

Full Idea

Every piece of knowledge that is beneficial to us involves an identification of nonidentical things, of things that are similar, which means that it is essentially illogical.

Gist of Idea

Our knowledge is illogical, because it rests on false identities between things

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Unpublished Notebooks 1872-74 [1873], 19 [236])

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Unpublished of 'Unfashionable Obs' period (v 11)', ed/tr. Gray,Richard T. [Stanford 1995], p.74


A Reaction

I take the thought to be that no two tigers are alike, but we call them all 'tigers' and merge them into a type, and then all our knowledge is based on this distortion. A wonderful idea. I love particulars You should love particulars.

Related Idea

Idea 7144 Logic must falsely assume that identical cases exist [Nietzsche]


The 30 ideas from 'Unpublished Notebooks 1872-74'

If philosophy controls science, then it has to determine its scope, and its value [Nietzsche]
Kant has undermined our belief in metaphysics [Nietzsche]
Philosophy ennobles the world, by producing an artistic conception of our knowledge [Nietzsche]
Philosophy is more valuable than much of science, because of its beauty [Nietzsche]
Unlike science, true wisdom involves good taste [Nietzsche]
The Greeks lack a normative theology: each person has their own poetic view of things [Nietzsche]
We do not know the nature of one single causality [Nietzsche]
It always remains possible that the world just is the way it appears [Nietzsche]
It is just madness to think that the mind is supernatural (or even divine!) [Nietzsche]
Our primary faculty is perception of structure, as when looking in a mirror [Nietzsche]
If some sort of experience is at the root of matter, then human knowledge is close to its essence [Nietzsche]
We experience causation between willing and acting, and thereby explain conjunctions of changes [Nietzsche]
Laws of nature are merely complex networks of relations [Nietzsche]
Our knowledge is illogical, because it rests on false identities between things [Nietzsche]
If we find a hypothesis that explains many things, we conclude that it explains everything [Nietzsche]
Belief matters more than knowledge, and only begins when knowledge ceases [Nietzsche]
Philosophy is always secondary, because it cannot support a popular culture [Nietzsche]
It would better if there was no thought [Nietzsche]
Logic is just slavery to language [Nietzsche]
The most extreme scepticism is when you even give up logic [Nietzsche]
Why do people want philosophers? [Nietzsche]
Protest against vivisection - living things should not become objects of scientific investigation [Nietzsche]
We should evaluate the past morally [Nietzsche]
The shortest path to happiness is forgetfulness, the path of animals (but of little value) [Nietzsche]
The first aim of a philosopher is a life, not some works [Nietzsche]
Education is contrary to human nature [Nietzsche]
You should only develop a philosophy if you are willing to live by it [Nietzsche]
Wisdom prevents us from being ruled by the moment [Nietzsche]
Philosophy is pointless if it does not advocate, and live, a new way of life [Nietzsche]
Suffering is the meaning of existence [Nietzsche]