
02/10/2025
🌹The quote in the image, “If the truth shall kill them, let them die,” is commonly attributed to the philosopher Immanuel Kant. However, there is no clear evidence that Kant ever explicitly said or wrote this statement.🌹
It appears to be a paraphrase or misattribution, drawing upon themes present in Kant’s philosophy, particularly his emphasis on the moral imperative to tell the truth.
Kant’s ethical philosophy is grounded in the idea of the categorical imperative, a universal principle that compels individuals to act in ways that could be universally applied.
He believed that truth-telling was a fundamental moral duty, regardless of the potential consequences. For Kant, lying—even with good intentions—compromises human dignity and undermines trust, which is essential for a functional society.
This perspective is most famously articulated in his essay On a Supposed Right to Lie from Altruistic Motives, where he argues that lying is always morally wrong, even to prevent harm.
The boldness of this quote resonates with Kantian ethics, as it underscores the priority of truth over subjective considerations like comfort or fear of consequences.
It suggests that the pursuit and preservation of truth should take precedence, even if it challenges or destabilizes individuals.
While this sentiment aligns with Kant's rigid moral principles, the dramatic phrasing of the quote likely reflects a modern reinterpretation of his views, rather than a direct citation from his work.
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