All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
—
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)
Morgan
on 20 Feb 10There’s an important inversion to keep humbly in mind, which is that not every thing that is ridiculed is truth. Sometimes, it’s just ridiculous.
Jesper
on 20 Feb 10I don’t think the point was that nearly everything that is ridiculed is truth, but that nearly everything that is truthful is ridiculed.
Scott
on 20 Feb 10Yep. I’m sure there are some subtleties among that process and a few exceptions as well. In fact, I’d imagine that process applies to truths that are contrary to the currently accepted truth.
Also, many times truths are rejected based of peripheral implications. For example, the earth is billions of years old, but that truth is opposed by people who think that negates the story of creation in Genesis. In reality, it doesn’t.
Another classic is gravity or our galaxy being heliocentric. Or, perhaps better suited for this audience, the truth that most people prefer simple software over software that has to be figured out.
Chris McMahon
on 20 Feb 10Is this about the iPad?
Alex M
on 20 Feb 10Obviously you guys didn’t do good in Philosophy class.
Everything that is ridiculed is not necessarily truth. Every truth is not necessarily ridiculed. What a ridiculous quote.
Jesper
on 20 Feb 10And it may or may not be true. But if it is true, it has now been ridiculed.
szeryf
on 20 Feb 10“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mahatma Gandhi
Vassil
on 20 Feb 10I wouldn’t say all, although this one does
Juan
on 21 Feb 10to Alex M: Schopenhauer is not talking about logic but historical contexts of truth discoveries.
Mohit Ranka
on 21 Feb 10On the similar notes, about fighting for truth and fairness.
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Anonymous Coward
on 21 Feb 10See it to believe it lads … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXDsRoc6MGo … so who was the greater artist? Gandhi or Schopenhauer :)
Alex M
on 21 Feb 10I’m aware that it is referring to historical contexts of truth discoveries. It still doesn’t hold water. It’s a bogus soundbyte maxim. It’s usually used by people to give an appearance of authority to what their claiming. Conspiracy theorists love to use the quote to bolster truths like the Kennedy assassination conspiracy, 37signals to bolster the truth that smaller/simpler is better, or vegans to bolster the truth that eating animals is inherently wrong.
Schopenhauer wrote about humans’ indelible tendency to cling to their beliefs in the face of contrary evidence. It’s a huge stretch to take that and conclude that truth by its nature passes though three stages of ridicule, violent opposition, and acceptance as self-evident.
Benjy
on 22 Feb 10Let’s hope this holds true with regard to health care reform in Congress…
Michael
on 22 Feb 10Uh, nope, Schopenhauer is still ridiculous.
pht
on 24 Feb 10“All BS goes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently advertised. Third, it is accepted as self-evident.”
Optionaly, it is later aknowledged as BS, and then violently rationnalized. Optionaly.
lumko vusi
on 26 Feb 101. every project goes through the same phases . outline the three phases that the project goes through. 2. all project should progress through five project management phase.state the five project management phases.
This discussion is closed.