Quote by Bertrand Russell

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widely spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible.

The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence

Summary

This quote highlights the fallacy in assuming that the popularity of an opinion signifies its validity or rationality. It suggests that just because a belief is widely held does not make it any less absurd. In fact, given the tendency for people to hold nonsensical views, a widely spread belief is more likely to be foolish than sensible. It serves as a reminder to not blindly accept common beliefs, but instead to critically examine them for their logical coherence and soundness.

Topics

Belief Opinion Majority Bertrand Evidence Foolish Russell

By Bertrand Russell

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