Single Idea 5297

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 5. Objectivity]

Full Idea

The question whether objective truth can be attributed to human thinking is not a question of theory but is a practical question; man must prove the truth of his thinking in practice.

Gist of Idea

Whether human thinking can be 'true' must be decided in practice, not theory

Source

Karl Marx (Theses on Feuerbach [1846], §II)

Book Reference

Marx,K./Engels,F.: 'The German Ideology', ed/tr. Arthur,C.J. [Lawrence and Wishart 1985], p.121


A Reaction

This would appear to be an assertion of the pragmatic view of truth well before Peirce. The obvious objections arise, such as whether falsehood (Plato's 'noble lie') might not have equal practical success, and whether truth might be disastrous.