Bertrand Russell’s ‘A Liberal Decalogue’

This is a list I found in my wanderings. It’s sometimes known as Bertrand Russell’s ‘Ten Commandments’, though I like his title better: ‘A Liberal Decalogue‘.

1. Do not feel absolutely certain of anything.
2. Do not think it worthwhile to produce belief 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 is from your family, endeavour to overcome it with 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 is happiness.

I’m glad number 1 is at the top. Certainty just isn’t on offer in this universe. And that’s okay. We try to perceive reality as close as we can, even though we know our view is only partial, and we’ll need to update sometimes.

For some reason, number 10 jumps out at me. I suppose that’s because I know a lot of people in organisations and religions that teach foolishness, and, yes, achieving some happiness therein. I don’t envy them. Maybe I can’t be happy if I know I’m pretending.