Open Side Menu Go to the Top
Register
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens "The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens

03-07-2010 , 02:38 AM
Making New Commandments is an old pastime. Below are Ten Commandments put together by eveyones friend here in RGT, Bertrand Russell, in his response to 'fanticism'.

Liberal Decalogue: http://www.panarchy.org/russell/decalogue.1951.html

From above link-



Bertrand Russell

A Liberal Decalogue

(1951)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note

This Liberal Decalogue first appeared at the end of the article "The best answer to fanaticism: Liberalism" in the New York Times Magazine (16/December/1951). It was then included in The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, Vol. 3, 1944-1967.

It shows the usual sharp mind and tongue of Bertrand Russell, never more at ease as when presenting his non conventional ideas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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, endeavour 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 that 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.

^
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens Quote
03-07-2010 , 07:13 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by All-In Flynn
Actually, this

[snip]

was my avatar briefly.
Heh... I always thought your (previous) avatar was Richard Feynman, even though I know how Lenny Bruce looks.
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens Quote
03-07-2010 , 07:44 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by madnak
Really?

I always thought he looks like an Irishman.
Sigh. The lampooning of the stage Irishman - the last acceptable form of preudice IMO. I'm being persecuted!
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens Quote
03-07-2010 , 09:42 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by All-In Flynn
Sigh. The lampooning of the stage Irishman - the last acceptable form of preudice IMO. I'm being persecuted!
No way. I'll be mocking Canadians until the heat death of the universe.
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens Quote
03-07-2010 , 12:29 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeno
Making New Commandments is an old pastime. Below are Ten Commandments put together by eveyones friend here in RGT, Bertrand Russell, in his response to 'fanticism'.

Liberal Decalogue: http://www.panarchy.org/russell/decalogue.1951.html

From above link-



Bertrand Russell

A Liberal Decalogue

(1951)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Note

This Liberal Decalogue first appeared at the end of the article "The best answer to fanaticism: Liberalism" in the New York Times Magazine (16/December/1951). It was then included in The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell, Vol. 3, 1944-1967.

It shows the usual sharp mind and tongue of Bertrand Russell, never more at ease as when presenting his non conventional ideas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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, endeavour 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 that 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.

^
Was he absolutely certain about that list?
"The New Commandments", Christopher Hitchens Quote

      
m