Neither moral concepts nor art forms can expect to live forever. How much are we obliged to hold on to? Who can guarantee that 2 plus 2 don't add up to 5 on Jupiter?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Moral ideas and art are not permanent; we cannot be certain of truths across contexts.
- In plain terms
- Values and art change, and certainty is limited.
- What can you take from it?
- Stay open to change and question assumptions.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we decide which values persist?
- What role does context play in truth?
Another view
It may lead to moral nihilism if taken to extremes.
More from Henrik Ibsen
I hold that man is in the right who is most closely in league with the future.
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