DANGER SIGNS As a general rule, everyone who contemplates the nature of things should distrust whatever most readily takes and holds captive his own intellect, and should use so much the more caution in coming to deter- minations of this kind, that his understanding may remain impartial and clear. Francis Bacon. Novum Organum. But the greatest of all causes of non-observation is a preconceived opinion. This it is which, in all ages, has made the whole race of mankind, and every separate section of it, for the most part unobservant of all facts, however abundant, even when passing under their own eyes, which are contradictory to any first appearance, or any received tenet. J. S. Mill. System of Logic. As I have already said, these signs are merely indications of probable irrationality. They do not deserve much space, but will be briefly listed as useful warnings to the earnest seeker after truth. The reasons for their inclusion will in most cases be clear from reading the earlier chapters of this book. (i) Strong Feelings Two quotations will suffice here : The more strongly we feel about an opinion the more likely it is that it is held on irrational grounds (Dr. Julian Huxley), and When opinions are expressed with passion it usually means an absence of secure grounds for belief, except in the presence of over-action of the thyroid gland ; and that exception is highly important (Dr. Robert T. Morris). Dr. Morriss exception is, for our purposes, not very serious, since over-action of the thyroid gland will tend to cause all opinions to be expressed with passion, whereas in cases of irrationality it will only be the most cherished opinions which are strongly held. This sign has to be interpreted relatively rather than absolutely, because extremely few people are willing to hold opinions with really scientific detachment and in consequence even the most reasonable discussion usually shows some degree of heat as indeed does any objective phenomenon ; absolute zero is still a half -degree away even in the laboratory. Besides, heat is the result of friction of frustration ; and the heat which accompanies an opinion may sometimes be due, not to the frustration of being unable to produce the evidence, but to the frustration of being in a minority of being, although on the score of evidence in the right, powerless DANGER SIGNS 169 against the might of opposition. However, one must, in any case, beware of expecting consistent reality-thinking from the human brain. Moreover the mental discomfort of holding moderate opinions has created, by long tradition, a sort of social sanction for strong opinions, so that anyone who habitually speaks with moderation tends to be regarded either as an ignorant fellow or as incapable of effective action. 1 We want to feel justified in holding strong views about matters which affect us personally ; we cannot find good reason for doing so ; we therefore rationalize by persuading ourselves that there is something wrong or, by converse, weak about anybody who does not do so. No wonder, then, that perfect moderation is rare ! Nor perhaps is it even desirable. A correct opinion is of no use to the world if it is held with such moderation that its holder never does anything about it. The perfectly clear-headed man may be like Paul Valerys Monsieur Teste, who could see no sufficient argument against complete inaction. All the same, passionate feelings about opinions (as opposed to facts) do tend to signify irrationality in proportion to their strength. We need to hold opinions with sufficient certainty to act on them ; but this is different from passionately defending a belief against all-comers. (2) Use of Emotive Words This is a danger sign only when the user of the emotive words (a) imagines or pretends that he is being perfectly rational, and (b) cither is patently unconscious of the differ- ence between emotive and informative language, or, being conscious himself of the difference, hopes that his audience is not. Once again, it is a sign which cannot be interpreted too rigidly ; in ordinary conversation an argument couched in completely emotionless terms is too boring to gain a hearing ; but the emotive words should be the appetizing garnish applied to the evidence, not a substitute for it
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:57:55 +0000
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