IV. Man Is a Passional, Rather Than a Rational, Being.
Twentieth-century psychologists are coming around to the view that even the leaders of thought are governed by instinct and mores rather than reason. Even for intellectuals, truth is what is intuitive or what satisfies their prejudices and instincts. Still in the twentieth century, the leaders of thought bow down before intellectual idols, although other than those overthrown by Francis Bacon. Still to-day—as in the generation of Roger Bacon (13th century) — conservatives yearn to imprison, or even burn at the stake, those in whom a purer reason than their own operates
My own is thus a Herculean task: To be an intellectual iconoclast. To break down the last remnant of cultured man's savage, criminal instincts and mores. But, like Roger Bacon, I may comfort myself with the thought that my views are centuries in advance of my time; but, like him, I am therefore bitterly persecuted.[1]
- ↑ A confidant who read these paragraphs commented in substance: "'Physician, heal thyself!' Your book shows that you yourself are governed by instinct and prejudice. 'Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.' Therefore omit these paragraphs."
If I am governed by instinct and prejudice, I am conscious of being ruled only by reason. Perhaps those who advocate the suppression of intermediates without investigation equally feel they are governed by pure reason. Granted that both they and myself are ruled by instinct and prejudice and that it is impossible for mankind to exercise pure reason, nevertheless inter-
