Arthur Schopenhauer is one of the most underrated philosophers of all time. In his essay “On the Vanity of Existence,” he argues that life is ultimately meaningless and that we are all just chasing after windmills. While this may sound bleak at first, there is a lot of wisdom to be found in his words. In particular, I want to focus on one quote in particular: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
This quote is often misattributed to Fredrich Nietzsche, but it was actually Schopenhauer who said it first. And I think there’s a lot of truth to it. Too often, we are quick to dismiss new ideas simply because they are different from what we are used to. We see this all the time in politics; new laws or policies are met with immediate opposition simply because they are different from the status quo. But if we take a step back and look at things objectively, we may realize that these new ideas are actually good for us. It takes time for people to come around, but eventually the truth does prevail.
Of course, there are also times when something is initially met with widespread approval only to be later debunked. We see this a lot in the world of science; new theories or discoveries are initially celebrated but later shown to be false. The key here is to not get too attached to any one idea and always be open to change.
Truths that can be difficult to accept are those that challenge our preconceptions or beliefs. They can be difficult to accept because they threaten our sense of certainty or because they make us question our actions or beliefs. They can also be difficult to accept because they challenge the status quo, which may be something that we deeply value. Some of the truths that can be difficult to accept are:
1) There is no one right way to do things.
One controversial scientific truth is that there is no one “right” way to do things. This means that what works for one person might not work for another. This can be difficult to accept because it challenges the idea that there is a single correct way to live. Another controversial truth is that some people are more capable than others.
2) Some people are more capable than others.
Another controversial scientific truth is that intelligence is mostly determined by genes. This means that people are born with different levels of intelligence and that it is very difficult to change these levels. This controversial truth is difficult to accept for many people because it means that some people are born with more intelligence than others. It also means that people have different levels of ability and that these abilities are largely determined by genes.
Controversial Truths
The argument for why it is likely that god exists is that the universe is too complex for it to have arisen by natural processes. The universe is estimated to be about 14 billion years old, and it has existed for a relatively short amount of time. If the universe had arisen by natural processes, it would have been unstable and would have eventually ceased to exist.
Thus, there is evidence that suggests the universe was created by an intelligent force, which is known as the theory of intelligent design. This theory challenges the idea that the universe arose by natural processes, but it does not disprove this theory.
The problem is that atheists and theists each believe that the other side is irrational, that each side is being stubborn and narrow-minded. While some truths are difficult to accept because they challenge our intuitions, others are difficult to accept because they challenge our identity.
Once you identify with a certain worldview, you become blind to the evidence that contradicts it. Furthermore, evolution challenges the theory of intelligent design, which is the idea that an intelligent agent created the universe. However, evolution does not disprove the theory of intelligent design. In fact, there are some people who believe that the theory of intelligent design is based on evidence that was not previously known.
One such person is francis collins. Collins believes in evolution, but he also believes in the theory of intelligent design. He says that the theory of intelligent design is based on evidence that was previously unknown – we did not know about the existence of atoms or DNA back when the theory of intelligent design was created.
It can be difficult to change our beliefs because they are a part of our identity. Our beliefs define who we are and how we see the world. When our beliefs are challenged, it can feel like we are being attacked. We may become defensive and resistant to change.
Hence the quote, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed.