Meaning: The quote "No consensus of men can make an error erroneous. We can only find or commit an error, not create it. When we commit an error, we say what was an error already" by Josiah Royce, a prominent American philosopher, highlights the concept of truth and error. In this quote, Royce emphasizes that consensus or agreement among individuals does not determine the truth or falsity of something. Rather, he argues that errors exist independently of human perception and can only be discovered or committed, not created.

Josiah Royce was a leading figure in the school of American pragmatism, a philosophical tradition that emphasizes the practical consequences of beliefs and the importance of experience and action in determining truth. In this context, Royce's quote can be understood as a reflection of his pragmatic approach to truth and error.

Royce's assertion that no consensus of men can make an error erroneous challenges the idea that truth is determined solely by popular opinion or agreement. Instead, he suggests that errors have an objective existence independent of human judgment. This aligns with the pragmatic view that truth is not fixed and absolute but is instead determined through a process of inquiry and experience.

The statement "We can only find or commit an error, not create it" further underscores Royce's perspective on the nature of error. It implies that errors are inherent in the world and can be either discovered through inquiry or inadvertently made through human actions. This aligns with the pragmatic notion that truth and error are contingent on human experience and practical consequences.

The final part of the quote, "When we commit an error, we say what was an error already," suggests that errors preexist human recognition and action. In other words, when we commit an error, we are acknowledging something that was already erroneous, independent of our perception. This idea reflects Royce's belief in the independent existence of truth and error, regardless of human interpretation.

In summary, Josiah Royce's quote challenges the notion that truth and error are determined solely by human consensus or perception. Instead, he emphasizes the objective existence of errors and the role of human experience and action in discovering or committing them. This aligns with the pragmatic philosophy that truth is contingent on practical consequences and inquiry, rather than being determined by fixed, absolute standards. Royce's quote invites us to consider the nature of truth and error in a way that acknowledges their independence from human judgment and consensus.