Rational thinking

Nasir Khan, October 1, 2015

“It is wrong always, everywhere and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.”

– English mathematician and philosopher, W. K. Clifford (1845-1879), who had a short life of 33 years.

————-

W.K. Clifford has offered us a profound insight in this succinct remark. It opens up new vistas for us in our struggles to seek knowledge and truth. If we follow it, then many myths that exist all around us in our political, social and cultural stereotypes would come tumbling down and instead we would have a rational and humane path in front of us. 

In reality, myths and sugar-coated lies still control us. Luckily, despite all the impediments and social taboos, a limited number of people see what is at stake and are brave enough to stand for rational thinking. Because of rational thinking, rational social practice is born and gets stronger. Thus, the dialectical connection between thinking and social practice as an interactive process becomes the motive-force of Social Change.