118. Direct Your Intellectual Pursuits

It seems to me all to common that people pursue theories for sake of pursuing them, rather than a search for truth. The problem in this is that truth is the end, and our capabilities to be rational and seek truth are a means. Treating the pursuit of truth as the end is like treating money as an end, rather than a means.

“On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.”

–Friedrich Nietzsche

We ought not treat means as ends or ends as means. If we do, we are acting improperly and will not be able to reap the benefit of proper action.

Seeking Truth Should be Honest, Not For Pride

What should be the focus of an intellectual pursuit is not notoriety, pride of accomplishment, or vindication. Rather, we should seek truth and if any of those come our way as a side effect, be grateful.

Truth Doesn’t Bend to our Whim

The worst thing one can do is to attempt to subdue the truth and wield it, rather than to seek and accept it. This is a grave problem and should be avoided, as it is an exercise of pride and self-imposition on reality, rather than acceptance of the reality at hand. It is the beginning of ideology and tyranny, and many of the ills our society sees today.

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