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Single Idea 4426

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / i. Moral luck ]

Full Idea

I should prefer to exclude the bad result, the consequences, from the question of value as a matter of principle. Faced with a bad result, one loses all too easily the right perspective for what one has done.

Gist of Idea

A bad result distorts one's judgement about the virtue of what one has done

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Ecce Homo [1889], Clever §1)

Book Ref

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'On the Genealogy of Morals/ Ecce Homo', ed/tr. Kaufmann,Walter [Vintage 1969], p.236


A Reaction

If the perspective is easily lost, we should make more effort, not ignore consequences. The question is whether you could have foreseen or controlled the consequences.


The 8 ideas from 'Ecce Homo'

I am not an atheist because of reasoning or evidence, but because of instinct [Nietzsche]
The distinction between egoistic and non-egoistic acts is absurd [Nietzsche]
A bad result distorts one's judgement about the virtue of what one has done [Nietzsche]
One repays a teacher badly if one remains only a pupil [Nietzsche]
To become what you are you must have no self-awareness [Nietzsche]
Eternal recurrence is the highest attainable affirmation [Nietzsche]
The overcoming of pity I count among the noble virtues [Nietzsche]
A warlike philosopher challenges problems to single combat [Nietzsche]