Once Again Bertrand Russell For You!
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
12 April
2024
The whole problem with the world is that fools
and fanatics are always so certain and wiser people so full of
doubts.........Bertrand Russell
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Bertrand Russell
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Bertrand Russell's quote perfectly captures a fundamental
issue plaguing society - the problem of misguided certainty and doubt.
In his assertion, Russell suggests that fools and fanatics
are consistently convinced of their beliefs, without room for doubt or
intellectual curiosity. On the other hand, wiser individuals, being more
thoughtful and experienced, are often ridden with doubt and hesitation.
This dichotomy highlights a critical aspect of human nature;
those who are supremely confident in their convictions may inadvertently cause
harm or perpetuate ignorance, while those who possess wisdom and intellectual
humility may find themselves Sidelined or doubted. This quote serves as a
reminder for us to embrace humility and critical thinking, and to challenge our
own certainties for the betterment of our world.
All fanatics are brim-full with an overwhelming sense of
(negative) certitude. Fools and fanatics are always in the majority. By the
way, way back in 1967, a film 'Aman' hit the marquee. Rajendra Kumar was the
hero of the movie and his meeting with Bertrand Russell was a part of the film.
You can see Rajendra Kumar conversing with Russell on the screen. After the
shooting, Rajendra Kumar was having an informal chat with one of the greatest
modern minds. He requested Russell to give his autograph with a quote. Russell
wrote in Rajendra Kumar's notebook, " Avoid fools and fanatics because
they're never amenable to reason and logic." Rajendra Kumar mentioned this
in an interview to an English film magazine in 1972.
Fools and fanatics are indeed not amenable to reason and
logic. We see this happening all over the world.
The fanatics of Hamas attacked Israel and equally fanatic
Israel retaliated with a vengeance. The war is still going on. Foolish Putin
invaded Ukraine and devastated a whole country. To be unwaveringly certain
about an issue or ideology is not an admirable quality. Fanatics, esp.
religious fanatics are often unshakably certain about their beliefs and they
erroneously think that the tenets of their faith and belief system are
inalterable. They're never ready to accept that they could ever be wrong or
their beliefs may be questionable at times.
Fanatics and fools are like frogs. You may have noticed, the
moment a frog croaks, other frogs also start croaking in unison. It's a
veritable chorus. When one fanatic propounds something foolish, other fanatics
of his ilk will emulate him. That's also a very powerful reason for their
obstinate certainty because they know that they'll soon have a herd of people
coming to their rescue with similar silly thinking.
Fallacy of the Majority works in favour of fools and
fanatics. But a truly wise person is often alone. He knows that very few people
will support him. So, he always hesitates and dithers, Utthe Na Ehtiyaat
Mein Ahle-Khirad Ke Paaon/ Ahle-Junoon Toh Jhaad Kar Daaman Nikal Gaye
(Being over-cautious, the wise ones hesitate to take a step/ But the
uninhibited souls always make a clean sweep). But a fool has no such
apprehension because fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Russell's profound wisdom becomes all the more relevant in
these times of morbid fanaticism and extreme obstinacy when people are in no
mood to listen to alternative viewpoints.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/bertrand-russell-fanatics/d/132122
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