General Sentiment and the General Election—Some Wisdom for Today after Yesterday
I’m not ready to comment on the results of the 2012 General Election, other than to quote these words from Isaac Watts (1674-1748):
If we had nothing but the reason of men to deal with, and that reason were pure and uncorrupted, it would then be a matter of no great skill or labour to convince another person of common mistakes, or to persuade him to assent to plain and obvious truths; but alas! mankind stand wrapt round in errors, and intrenched in prejudices; and every one of their opinions is supported and guarded by something else beside reason.
—Isaac Watts, The Improvement of the Mind
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About Doug Geivett
Very cool to know how a quote can change your day!
Andres
If he has transcended it, then by implication, one of a contrary opinion is epistemically incapable of discovering that it is thus, and not otherwise. Was Watts also including himself?
Today has been a day of reflection and consternation, but not sophistry until your comment showed itself.
” and every one of their opinions is supported and guarded by something else beside reason.”
And thus by implication, your own opinions fall under this universally quantified statement.
Or would you suggest that you’ve transcended this condition in virtue of some skill those of us who vote for a different political party than you simply don’t possess?