Sunday, April 13, 2014

How is Voltaire's statement that "it is dangerous to be right in matters about which the established authorities are wrong" correct?

This statement is correct if it refers to areas in which
the established authorities are more interested in retaining their power than they are
in finding truth.  In such cases, the authorities will generally be very much on the
defensive because they will feel endangered by someone who is questioning their mistaken
beliefs.


In areas where truth is not as valued as power,
the people in power want to keep their position.  Because of this, they will often stop
at nothing to destroy those who are a threat to this power.  Someone who can prove their
ideas wrong is clearly a threat to that power and they will react
strongly.


I would say this is especially true when the
authorities know (or suspect) that they are wrong.  In those cases they will be
particularly worried about dissent for fear that their mistakes will be
exposed.

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