Reason, it is true, is DICTATOR in the Society of Mankind; from her there ought to lie no Appeal; But here we want a Pope in our Philosophy, to be the infallible Judge of what is or is not Reason.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reason should rule human thought but needs an infallible judge to resolve disputes.
- In plain terms
- We need an authority to decide what counts as reasonable.
- What can you take from it?
- Reason requires a standard to avoid endless debate.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Who decides what is reasonable?
- Is absolute truth possible?
Another view
Infallible judges rarely exist in practice without bias.
More from Daniel Defoe
Alas the Church of England! What with Popery on one hand, and schismatics on the other, how has she been crucified between two thieves!
Permalink to quote #2 All men would be tyrants if they could.
Permalink to quote #4 We loved the doctrine for the teacher's sake.
Permalink to quote #1
Related quotes
Auctoritas siquidem ex vera ratione processit, ratio vero nequaquam ex auctoritate. Omnis enim auctoritas, quae vera ratione non approbatur, infirma videtur es…
Johannes Scotus EriugenaJohannes Scotus Eriugena quote #2 Great virtues may draw attention from defects, they cannot sanctify them. A pebble surrounded by diamonds remains a common stone, and a diamond surrounded by p…
Robert G. IngersollRobert G. Ingersoll quote #53 The real searcher after truth will not receive the old because it is old, or reject the new because it is new. He will not believe men because they are dead, o…
Robert G. IngersollRobert G. Ingersoll quote #211