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Single Idea 15999

[filed under theme 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 3. Value of Truth ]

Full Idea

If God held all truth enclosed in his right hand, and in his left hand the ever-striving drive for truth, even if erring forever, and he were to say Choose! I would humbly fall at his left hand and say Father, give! Pure truth is for infinite beings only.

Gist of Idea

Pure truth is for infinite beings only; I prefer endless striving for truth

Source

Søren Kierkegaard (Concluding Unscientific Postscript [1846], p.106)

A Reaction

A sobering realistic thought of our own limitations; Kierkegaard allows that there is no limit to how far we can strive for truth. Just that truth is comprehended by infinite beings (if any), not by mere mortals. [SY]

The 15 ideas from 'Concluding Unscientific Postscript'

22092 Kierkegaard's truth draws on authenticity, fidelity and honesty [Kierkegaard, by Carlisle]
20313 The highest truth we can get is uncertainty held fast by an inward passion [Kierkegaard]
20314 People want to lose themselves in movements and history, instead of being individuals [Kierkegaard]
20312 God cannot be demonstrated objectively, because God is a subject, only existing inwardly [Kierkegaard]
7578 I conceived it my task to create difficulties everywhere [Kierkegaard]
7584 Without risk there is no faith [Kierkegaard]
7580 Pantheism destroys the distinction between good and evil [Kierkegaard]
7579 While big metaphysics is complete without ethics, personal philosophy emphasises ethics [Kierkegaard]
7581 Speculative philosophy loses the individual in a vast vision of humanity [Kierkegaard]
15999 Pure truth is for infinite beings only; I prefer endless striving for truth [Kierkegaard]
20742 The real subject is ethical, not cognitive [Kierkegaard]
22047 Wherever there is painless contradiction there is also comedy [Kierkegaard]
7583 Faith is the highest passion in the sphere of human subjectivity [Kierkegaard]
7582 Becoming what one is is a huge difficulty, because we strongly aspire to be something else [Kierkegaard]
7586 God does not think or exist; God creates, and is eternal [Kierkegaard]