"In other words, what is supposedly found is an invention whose inventor is unaware of his act of invention, who considers it as something that exists independently of him; the invention then becomes the basis of his world view and actions"
About this Quote
A neat trick of the mind is that it can smuggle in a made-up idea and file it under “just reality.” Watzlawick is naming that sleight of hand: what we congratulate ourselves for “discovering” is often something we quietly manufactured, then forgot we built. The real bite is the second move. Once the invention is mistaken for an independent fact, it hardens into a premise, and premises don’t stay in the realm of theory; they start spending money, shaping relationships, justifying punishments, and narrowing what a person can even notice.
The intent is clinical but not cold. As a key voice in communication theory and constructivist psychology, Watzlawick is pushing back against the comforting fantasy that our perceptions arrive unmediated, like clean data. He’s pointing to the recursive loop: you invent an explanation, treat it as objective, then use it to interpret everything else. The world begins to echo your initial assumption, not because it’s true, but because you’ve built a filter that makes it appear true.
The subtext is a warning about self-sealing beliefs. “Inventor unaware of his act of invention” describes the everyday pathology of certainty: the person who “knows” their partner is disloyal, their coworker is hostile, their group is superior, then behaves in ways that elicit confirming reactions. In therapy, in politics, in office life, Watzlawick’s line lands as an indictment of our love affair with “the way things are” - and a reminder that changing actions often starts with admitting the “facts” propping them up may be homemade.
The intent is clinical but not cold. As a key voice in communication theory and constructivist psychology, Watzlawick is pushing back against the comforting fantasy that our perceptions arrive unmediated, like clean data. He’s pointing to the recursive loop: you invent an explanation, treat it as objective, then use it to interpret everything else. The world begins to echo your initial assumption, not because it’s true, but because you’ve built a filter that makes it appear true.
The subtext is a warning about self-sealing beliefs. “Inventor unaware of his act of invention” describes the everyday pathology of certainty: the person who “knows” their partner is disloyal, their coworker is hostile, their group is superior, then behaves in ways that elicit confirming reactions. In therapy, in politics, in office life, Watzlawick’s line lands as an indictment of our love affair with “the way things are” - and a reminder that changing actions often starts with admitting the “facts” propping them up may be homemade.
Quote Details
| Topic | Truth |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
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