There is a very special sense in which materialism has more restrictions than spiritualism. Mr. McCabe thinks me a slave because I am not allowed to believe in determinism. I think Mr. McCabe a slave because he is not allowed to believe in fairies. But if we examine the two vetoes we shall see that his is really much more of a pure veto than mine. The Christian is quite free to believe that there is a considerable amount of settled order and inevitable development in the universe. But the materialist is not allowed to admit into his spotless machine the slightest speck of spiritualism or miracle. Poor Mr. McCabe is not allowed to retain even the tiniest imp, though it might be hiding in a pimpernel.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Chesterton argues that materialism is more restrictive than spiritualism because it forbids belief in miracles or spiritual elements, while spiritualism allows for order without denying the possibility of the supernatural.
- In plain terms
- Materialism bans miracles, but spiritualism allows them.
- What can you take from it?
- Spiritualism offers more intellectual freedom than materialism.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is denying the supernatural a form of slavery?
- What does true intellectual freedom look like?
Another view
It ignores that materialism allows scientific exploration while spiritualism may limit it.
More from Gilbert Keith Chesterton
The materialist philosophy (whether true or not) is certainly much more limiting than any religion. In one sense, of course, all intelligent ideas are narrow. …
Permalink to quote #118 The sane man knows that he has a touch of the beast, a touch of the devil, a touch of the saint, a touch of the citizen. Nay, the really sane man knows that he…
Permalink to quote #120 Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers…
Permalink to quote #117
Related quotes
Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship…
Swami VivekanandaSwami Vivekananda quote #1 It's no go the Yogi-Man, it's no go Blavatsky, All we want is a bank balance and a bit of skirt in a taxi.
Louis MacNeiceLouis MacNeice quote #1 The true Vedantic spirit does not start out with a system of preconceived ideas. It possesses absolute liberty and unrivalled courage among religions with rega…
Romain RollandRomain Rolland quote #3