The method of 'postulating' what we want has many advantages; they are the same as the advantages of theft over honest toil.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Postulating what we want is advantageous, like theft compared to honest work.
- In plain terms
- Imagining desired outcomes can be a shortcut, but it's ethically dubious.
- What can you take from it?
- Be cautious of using wishful thinking as a substitute for effort.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does imagination become a harmful shortcut?
- How can we harness desire without unethical shortcuts?
Another view
Imagining outcomes can inspire genuine effort when used responsibly.
More from Bertrand Russell
Ethics is in origin the art of recommending to others the sacrifices required for co-operation with oneself.
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