31 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
The Danger of Believing Unproven Things
... If I let myself believe anything on insufficient evidence, there may be no great harm done by the mere belief; it may be true after all, or I may never have occasion to exhibit it in outward acts. But I cannot help doing this great wrong towards Man, that I make myself credulous. The danger to society is not merely that it should believe wrong things, though that is great enough; but that it should become credulous, and lose the habit of testing things and inquiring into them; for then it... 1 
notes
notesIs that we fall into the habit of believing these things, the empirical knowledge we have crumbles, and we return to savagery.
31 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
The Dangerous Zealot
There is no great harm in the theorist who makes up a new theory to fit a new event. But the theorist who starts with a false theory and then sees everything as making it come true is the most dangerous enemy of human reason. 1 notes
notesChesterson describes the "theorist who starts with a false theory" and sees everything as supporting it as the most dangerous enemy of human reason. Sounds like religious believers.
