Schopenhauer: Don't Correct Others | Counsels & Maxims 38

It's useless, harmful, and the social arena is not a place to pursue truth.
Schopenhauer playlist: • Schopenhauer's Counsel...
Section 38 of Counsels and Maxims (1851)
0:00 Correcting Others
1:44 Overhearing Fools
3:03 Social Life is Not About Truth
#Philosophy #Schopenhauer #lifeadvice
Music: Among the Clouds, by Darren Curtis
Thumbnail Image: 1815 Portrait, By Ludwig Sigismund Ruhl - Schopenhauer-Archiv der Stadt- und Universitätsbibliothek Frankfurt am Main, Public Domain, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
Schopenhauer Text:
Never combat any man's opinion; for though you reached the age of Methuselah, you would never have done setting him right upon all the absurd things that he believes.
It is also well to avoid correcting people's mistakes in conversation, however good your intentions may be; for it is easy to offend people, and difficult, if not impossible, to mend them.
If you feel irritated by the absurd remarks of two people whose conversation you happen to overhear, you should imagine that you are listening to a dialogue of two fools in a comedy. Probatum est.
The man who comes into the world with the notion that he is really going to instruct in matters of the highest importance, may thank his stars if he escapes with a whole skin.

[@putinstea]

Indeed, you cannot control the hoi polloi, they lack simply the capacity to reflect, and change. Best you do is lead the flock by nudging it in the direction you want.

[@Re-nq2uh]

Great explanation. Short, elegant and wise. I have a question, doesn't one risk being egoistic and arrogant by calling others fools and not giving a second thought to them? I recognise the danger of walking around thinking that you're the saviour of humanity and trying to change the world. But is there really no single situation, where pointing out the other person's opinion has a fallacy may be beneficial?

[@darillus1]

overhearing fools, perhaps it's better to not eavesdrop in the first place

[@VinOptimaxxx]

Standing by and watching stupid and ignorant people lead the world to ruin doesn't seem like a good philosophy. I've often hoped to one day become confident and assertive enough to stand up to those people. In reality I'm usually too apathetic or cowardly, but I've never tried to justify my lack of action as correct.

[@darillus1]

rihbolg