"I have observed that the world has suffered far less from ignorance than from pretensions to knowledge. It is not skeptics or explorers but fanatics and ideologues who menace decency and progress. No agnostic ever burned anyone at the stake or tortured a pagan, a heretic, or an unbeliever."
— Daniel Boorstin
"It is setting a high value upon our opinions, to roast men alive on account of them."
— Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, (1533-1592)
2007-07-05 05:20:55 · 8 answers · asked by HawaiianBrian 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pure,distilled wisdom.Words to live by.
2007-07-05 05:24:51 · answer #1 · answered by M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it represents a sad truth, but I'd argue with Mr. Boorstin and say that ignorance is the greatest threat to humanity, because ignorance is what leads to hatred, racism, war, and virtually any conflict. I know a lot of awful things are don in the name of Christianity. The crusades were a joke, witch hunts were paranoid, and all those wars were tragic. But I'm not like any of that. I share my beliefs with anyone who will listen, but if you don't want to hear what I have to say, it's all right, and I won't hate you for it. Also, I want to hear the other side. I won't try to justify the past, and I won't make promises about the future, but I will tell you that right now, while I am alive, I will not act disrespectfully to anyone because of what they believe. And by the way, how many people are burned at the stake these days? Hasn't the world made some progress? I hope it has.
Also, you can't just ignore all the despicable things done against those with differing religious beliefs. The Holocaust, the Stalinist purges, even back to Emperor Nero, who burned Christians alive. It's a two way street if you ask me, and instead of continuing in ignorance and intolerance of each other, we should learn how to have respectful, civil conversations with each other about what we believe to be the truth. Don't you agree?
2007-07-05 12:29:18 · answer #2 · answered by Dan in Real Life 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ignorance is indeed dangerous, but the spirit of the first quote is that ignorance, and admitting our ignorance and searching to remedy it, is a great starting point to real learning.
Willingly remaining mired in one's ignorance is the danger...and the purview of arrogant systems of thought such as religion, nationalism & other stifling systems of 'thought'.
We can learn our place better in the universe if we admit to a humble place within it. Not insignificant mind you...just humble.
The second quote speaks to our penchant for persecuting those who do not agree with our generally under-explored ideas and beliefs. (I actually may have just read that in my research materials on the Witch Hunts).
Lastly, there is nothing mediocre about a humanist outlook, which looks toward the human experience and our place in our world when compared to the assininity of basing an outlook on a being that cannot even be shown to exist. It is working with what we have and can actually examine. Say what you will, but that is what keeps us alive, no matter how many shrouds of supernatural origin we throw on top of it.
Mr. P.
2007-07-05 12:57:55 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. P. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The quotes are warnings to avoid extremist views.
My thoughts?
Humanistic dung encouraging the masses to follow the road of mediocrity.
The fact in reality is that today there are whole societies established to promote zeal in conquering the mediocre.
2007-07-05 12:31:10 · answer #4 · answered by Bob L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both of these quotes appear to refer to the notion of heresy.
It is a semantic distinction, but it strikes me that pretensions to knowledge is ignorance, in that intellectual endeavour can only ever stand before truth since it is only ever content of thinking, and concepts can never be truth, only point to it.
2007-07-05 12:28:34 · answer #5 · answered by joju 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to me thats the classic...
putting others down to bring yourself up......
OH, im speaking of the second quote....
2007-07-05 12:24:11 · answer #6 · answered by tracy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i love the first one.
2007-07-05 12:23:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a book in your lap???
2007-07-05 12:23:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋