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Single Idea 20140

[from 'Beyond Good and Evil' by Friedrich Nietzsche, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 2. Pragmatic justification ]

Full Idea

The falseness of a judgement is to us not necessarily an objection to a judgement. To what extent is it life-advancing, life-preserving, species-preserving. Our fundamental tendency is to assert that our falsest judgements are the most indispensable.

Gist of Idea

We shouldn't object to a false judgement, if it enhances and preserves life

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Beyond Good and Evil [1886], §004)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Beyond Good and Evil', ed/tr. Hollingdale,R.J. [Penguin 1973], p.17


A Reaction

This is the standard objection to pragmatism, that what is false may still be useful, and that clever blighter Nietzsche embraces the idea!