by David D. Horowitz.
Doubt engenders tolerance, which motivates many to consider diverse viewpoints despite feeling weary of indecision. Yet, many extremist and charismatic leaders fear doubt; they crave worship instead. Their followers are expected to accept canned answers provided by sycophantic acolytes charged with keeping order in the ranks, so the leader can continue to claim prophetic status.
Nevertheless, doubt has a long, illustrious history as a philosophical virtue. Plato doubted various myths about gods. Aristotle doubted and disputed much of Plato’s epistemology. Copernicus doubted Aristotle’s cosmology. Galileo, determined to test Copernicus’s cosmological theories, essentially confirmed them by viewing heavenly bodies through an unprecedently powerful telescope. Thank God for Copernicus and Galileo!
Indeed, doubt builds the better telescope and reports what it sees. More practically, doubt kicks the tires and bites the coins, and kindness recommends it does so. We shouldn’t pay for goods with counterfeit money or drive poorly tested vehicles or adore demagogues who insist their speeches and manifestos are absolute truths.
That said, doubt’s greatest challenge remains from leaders who hate being doubted. The surest sign of a cult is the leader’s insistence on absolute faith in their guidance. The “leader” might cite concerns for community order when power, fame, and wealth are their paramount concerns. Whether it is a rare Republican who questions Donald Trump, an apostate who challenges the leader of an extremist religious sect, or Alexei Navalny wasting away in one of Vladimir Putin’s prisons, doubt not dogma is the more trustworthy leader.
Now, doubt should not lead us into eternal paralysis or mindless destruction. We need to try to make definitive decisions about law, education, ritual, and health, but we should be open to changing our minds and practices. Encourage doubts and objections. Help them emerge. Let doubt initiate an indefinitely long cultural conversation. We need sturdy institutions but not dank, intimidating castles guarded by dogma-spouting enforcers. In essence: encouraging doubt helps refresh and enliven a culture. Protect freedom of inquiry, not dogmatists hell-bent on keeping power. Yes, keep turning curiosity’s kaleidoscope. It’s amazing how bits of glass can yield so many lovely, distinct patterns.
