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Single Idea 7541

[from 'Maxims and Reflections' by Wolfgang von Goethe, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 3. Subjectivism ]

Full Idea

Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is.

Clarification

'Anthropomorphic' means seeing human form in something inhuman

Gist of Idea

Man never understands how anthropomorphic he is

Source

Wolfgang von Goethe (Maxims and Reflections [1825], 203)

Book Reference

Goethe,J. Wolfgang: 'Maxims and Reflections' [Penguin 1840], p.23


A Reaction

Nice. It is true, even when it is pointed out to us. No matter how hard we try to realise how very different animals are from us, we can't help identifying with them. Religious people even do it with inanimate creation.