Truths and Maxims

Name: Truths and Maxims
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The work explores the distinction between reason and understanding, emphasizing the difference between principles and maxims. It critiques the tendency to generalize conclusions from limited experiences, illustrating this with examples such as the observation of moss roses and the cyclical nature of the sun. The author argues that maxims, derived from empirical observations, can be misleading when new evidence emerges, while truths, such as mathematical principles, are universally valid and independent of experience. The text delves into the nature of knowledge, asserting that true understanding transcends mere accumulation of facts. It highlights the limitations of human reasoning when faced with uncertainty and the evolution of knowledge over time. The author contrasts intuitive truths, which are immediately recognized as valid, with conclusions that require empirical validation and may change with new discoveries. The work also addresses the philosophical implications of language and mathematical concepts, challenging conventional interpretations. It posits that while numbers can be combined to form new entities, they do not inherently possess the qualities of those combinations until they are united. This distinction underscores the complexity of understanding and the necessity of critical thinking in the pursuit of knowledge. Overall, the text serves as a philosophical inquiry into the nature of truth, knowledge, and the processes of reasoning, advocating for a deeper comprehension of the principles that govern our understanding of the world.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1810 · Genre: Philosophical Essay, Non-fiction, Literary Criticism · 449 words

First lines

The English public is not yet ripe to comprehend the essential difference between the reason and the understanding -- between a principle and a maxim -- an eternal truth and a mere conclusion generalized from a great number of facts. A man, having seen a million moss roses all red, concludes from his own experience and that of others that all moss roses are red. That is a maxim with him -- the _greatest_ amount of his knowledge upon the subject. But it is only true until some gardener has produced a white moss rose, -- after which the maxim is good for nothing. Again, suppose Adam watching the sun sinking under the western horizon for the first time; he is seized with gloom and terror, relieved by scarce a ray of hope that he shall ever see the glorious light again. The next evening, when it declines, his hopes are stronger, but still mixed with fear; and even at the end of a thousand years, all that a man can feel is a hope and an expectation so strong as to preclude anxiety. Now compare this in its highest degree with the assurance which you have that the two sides of any triangle are together greater than the third. This, demonstrated of one triangle, is seen to be eternally true of all imaginable triangles. This is a truth perceived at once by the intuitive reason, independently of experience. It is and must ever be so, multiply and vary the shapes and sizes of triangles as you may.

What this Textopian page supports

Truths and Maxims is listed on Textopian as an essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1810 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Essay
Author: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Date: 1810 CE
Language: English
Genres: Philosophical Essay, Non-fiction, Literary Criticism, Metaphysics, Epistemology
Length: 449 words
Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Truths and Maxims by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Truths and Maxims?
How does this essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Philosophical Essay first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Philosophical Essay — The work explores deep philosophical concepts regarding truth, understanding, and the nature of knowledge.
Non-fiction — It presents arguments and reflections based on real-world observations and logical reasoning.
Literary Criticism — The text critiques common misconceptions about knowledge and reasoning, engaging with literary and philosophical traditions.
Metaphysics — It delves into the nature of reality and existence, particularly in relation to truths and maxims.