Bertrand Russell's Ten Commandments

AB Editor | 13:05 Wed 02nd May 2012 | Society & Culture

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Spotted on: http://www.brainpicki...gue-bertrand-russell/

"Perhaps the essence of the Liberal outlook could be summed up in a new decalogue, not intended to replace the old one but only to supplement it. The Ten Commandments that, as a teacher, I should wish to promulgate, might be set forth as follows:

1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.

2. Do not think it worth while to proceed by concealing evidence, for the evidence is sure to come to light.

3. Never try to discourage thinking for you are sure to succeed.

4. When you meet with opposition, even if it should be from your husband or your children, endeavor to overcome it by argument and not by authority, for a victory dependent upon authority is unreal and illusory.

5. Have no respect for the authority of others, for there are always contrary authorities to be found.

6. Do not use power to suppress opinions you think pernicious, for if you do the opinions will suppress you.

7. Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.

8. Find more pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement, for, if you value intelligence as you should, the former implies a deeper agreement than the latter.

9. Be scrupulously truthful, even if the truth is inconvenient, for it is more inconvenient when you try to conceal it.

10. Do not feel envious of the happiness of those who live in a fool’s paradise, for only a fool will think that it is happiness."

Firstly, I thought I would share these with you all, as they're quite nicely put together.

Secondly, I wondered if anyone believes they can, or do, live by these rules? Or even if it is possible.

I would suggest it isn't possible entirely. For example: often we have to rely on the authority of others as we haven't the means, capacity or time to understand everything we would need to understand. As such we have to rely on the authority of others

Your thoughts?

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naomi24

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Ed, as you say, we do have to rely upon the authority of others in some instances, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the opinions of that authority are set in stone for eternity, and therefore we should always keep our options open. I would say that to the best of my ability, I pretty much live by most of them – especially number 7. ;o)

15:54 Wed 02nd May 2012

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