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Single Idea 20122
[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 2. Pragmatic justification
]
Full Idea
We simply lack any organ for knowledge, for 'truth'; we 'know' [das Erkennen] (or believe or imagine) just as much as may be useful in the interests of the human herd, the species; and this 'utility' is ultimately also a mere belief.
Gist of Idea
We have no organ for knowledge or truth; we only 'know' what is useful to the human herd
Source
Friedrich Nietzsche (The Gay (Joyful) Science [1882], §354)
Book Ref
Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'The Gay Science', ed/tr. Kaufmann,Walter [Vintage 1974], p.300
A Reaction
[Section §354 is fascinating!] An odd idea, that we can only have truth is we have an 'organ' for it. It seems plausible that the whole brain is a truth machine. This seems like pure pragmatism, with all its faults. Falsehoods can be useful.
The
33 ideas
from 'The Gay (Joyful) Science'
6579
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Nietzsche's perspectivism says our worldview depends on our personality
[Nietzsche, by Fogelin]
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4275
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You cannot advocate joyful wisdom while rejecting pity, because the two are complementary
[Scruton on Nietzsche]
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20125
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The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose
[Nietzsche]
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20198
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Many virtues are harmful traps, but that is why other people praise them
[Nietzsche]
|
9306
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To ward off boredom at any cost is vulgar
[Nietzsche]
|
20126
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The strength of knowledge is not its truth, but its entrenchment in our culture
[Nietzsche]
|
24076
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A morality ranks human drives and actions, for the sake of the herd, and subordinating individuals
[Nietzsche]
|
4423
|
We assume causes, geometry, motion, bodies etc to live, but they haven't been proved
[Nietzsche]
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2931
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God is dead, and we have killed him
[Nietzsche]
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24077
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Necessity is thought to require an event, but is only an after-effect of the event
[Nietzsche]
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24078
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Thoughts cannot be fully reproduced in words
[Nietzsche]
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24079
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The best life is the dangerous life
[Nietzsche]
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24080
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We should give style to our character - by applying an artistic plan to its strengths and weaknesses
[Nietzsche]
|
20141
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Higher human beings see and hear far more than others, and do it more thoughtfully
[Nietzsche]
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24081
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Most of our intellectual activity is unconscious
[Nietzsche]
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2933
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Why do you listen to the voice of your conscience?
[Nietzsche]
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2932
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'Know thyself' is impossible and ridiculous
[Nietzsche]
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2934
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To see one's own judgement as a universal law is selfish
[Nietzsche]
|
2935
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No two actions are the same
[Nietzsche]
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2936
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Imagine if before each of your actions you had to accept repeating the action over and over again
[Nietzsche]
|
6842
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Nietzsche says facing up to the eternal return of meaninglessness is the response to nihilism
[Nietzsche, by Critchley]
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24082
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Is the will to truth the desire to avoid deception?
[Nietzsche]
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22471
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Nietzsche thought it 'childish' to say morality isn't binding because it varies between cultures
[Nietzsche, by Foot]
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20121
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Grammar only reveals popular metaphysics
[Nietzsche]
|
20115
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All of our normal mental life could be conducted without consciousness
[Nietzsche]
|
20117
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Only the need for communication has led to consciousness developing
[Nietzsche]
|
20118
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Only our conscious thought is verbal, and this shows the origin of consciousness
[Nietzsche]
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20116
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Most of our lives, even the important parts, take place outside of consciousness
[Nietzsche]
|
20120
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Whatever moves into consciousness becomes thereby much more superficial
[Nietzsche]
|
20119
|
We became increasingly conscious of our sense impressions in order to communicate them
[Nietzsche]
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20122
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We have no organ for knowledge or truth; we only 'know' what is useful to the human herd
[Nietzsche]
|
20360
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We Germans value becoming and development more highly than mere being of what 'is'
[Nietzsche]
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24083
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It would be absurd to say we are only permitted our own single perspective
[Nietzsche]
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