How to avoid foolish opinions written by Bertrand Russell summary
Bertrand Russell essay how to avoid foolish opinion is a logical and thought provoking piece of writing. He tell us that we should try our best to develop healthy thoughts in life. For this we should first of all avoid having foolish opinions about their other person and their convections. We should not have BGS against anything. If some people have such opinion as irritate or hurt us we should not criticize them. Instead of this should try to understand their view of the vision conversion and psychological imagination help us in understanding others opinions we should try to be free talking to man of different opinions above all we should not consider over cells period to other because there may be many others much superior to us full is opinions and prejist help none and so they should be discarded.
The first simple rule according to Russell, is the method of observation. We should not believe everything at all once. instead, we should try to confirm it ourselves. He explained his point by giving the example of Aristotle, the great philosopher and thinker of the world. Aristotle had a firm belief that women have fewer teeth than man. But, he never tried to confirm it although he could do it quite easily by counting the teeth of his wife. Thus, "thinking that you know when in fact, you don't is a fatal mistake, to which we are all prone" is the valuable piece of advise given by Russell. He is bold enough to comment that ancient and medieval authors also committed the mistake of making dogmatic statements without making the observation themselves.
The other important way to avoid foolish opinions is though experience. Sometimes, people have passionate conventions on many matters and they have their own biases. If they here any opinion contrary to theirs, they feel angry. This often gives rise to unjust discussions. "The most savage controversies", according to Russell, "are those about matters as to which there is no evidence." Theology is based on opinions . There are differences in opinions and very often people want to force their opinions on others. Here, the author's advise is that we should know the opinions in the society around us . Living in other countries may help us in getting rid of a prejudice.
Psychological imagination also helps us to be free strong notions or dogmatic beliefs. We can hold imaginary dialogues with our opponents if we have the power of imagination and psychological insight. The method of psychological imagination is beyond the limitations of time and space. For example, Mahatma Gandhi never favoured machinery, steamboats and railways. People in the western countries did not hold this opinion because they considered these things essential for life. So in order to confirm who of them is right, one has to consider within oneself what arguments Gandhiji might have given in favour of his opinion. This method makes people less dogmatic and more reasonable in other opinions as they learn to listen to others' point of view.
Towards the end of the essay, Russell coutions people against the flattering opinions that Satisfy their self-esteem. Many people consider themselves superior to others. Especially, if they are man they are firmly convinced of the superiority of their own sex. They aregument is that only men have proved their excellence as poets and scientists. But, the other side of this argument may be that man are great criminal also. Women too may have their own prejudice regarding their superiority. Some people believe that their nation is superior to all others. The fact is that others may also have such nations of the superiority of their nation.
The writer, therefore advices people to be liberal in their attitude regarding self-esteem. We live in a very large universe is full of all sots of people-great or small, high or low, talented or dull. So, we should always accept it as it is. The thought that others, to may be superior to or greater than us, should always occupy our minds.
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