Famous quote by Isaiah Berlin

"The very desire for guarantees that our values are eternal and secure in some objective heaven is perhaps only a craving for the certainties of childhood or the absolute values of our primitive past"

About this Quote

In this quote, theorist Isaiah Berlin is recommending that the human desire for outright and everlasting worths is perhaps a residue of youth or a reflection of the simpler, more primitive state of mind of our forefathers. He is slamming the idea that our worths need to be objectively grounded in a heavenly or magnificent order, arguing that this requirement for certainty is maybe more psychological than rational. Berlin might be recommending that we should accept the relativism of human values and adapt to our altering environments, rather than seeking outright or constant requirements. Ultimately, Berlin appears to remind us that history and psychology can provide valuable insights for our understanding of human values.

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About the Author

Russia Flag This quote is written / told by Isaiah Berlin between June 6, 1909 and November 5, 1997. He/she was a famous Philosopher from Russia. The author also have 9 other quotes.
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