Elephant Principle

Froeb (Truth-text)

The necessity of different perspectives for complete understanding. Like the blind sages who feel different parts of an elephant (trunk, ear, leg, tail) and arrive at different conclusions, we grasp complex truths only through the integration of different perspectives. No perspective is "wrong," but each is one-sided. Truth arises through recognition and integration of the various viewpoints --- not through reduction to a single "correct" perspective.

In Hegel

Corresponds to the insight that the concept articulates itself into various moments (U-P-S) that only together constitute the truth. Also: the necessity of the system of inference --- every element must once mediate.

Cross-references

Reflective Determinations · A-B-E-Struktur · Perspektivenwechsel · Differenzierung

Systematischer ort

The elephant principle logically corresponds to the structure of the determinations of reflection (identity, distinction, opposition) and to the system of inference --- only when all three positions (S-P-U, U-S-P, P-U-S) have been traversed does the complete picture emerge.