Keeping errors at a bay

Bertrand Russel

The essay ‘Keeping Errors at Bay’ tells us why people make errors and suggests some ways of reducing such foolish mistakes. The writer says that people often make various foolish mistakes, but if we follow a few simple ways, the mistakes can be avoided.

1. We should settle any matter by observation as far as possible. We shouldn’t pretend to have known something unless we have really known it. Even Aristotle made such a mistake saying that women have fewer teeth than men. If he had counted his wife’s teeth, he could have avoided such a foolish mistake.

2. If observation is not possible, we shall compare our opinions with the opinions of our opponents. We may get angry at the opinions that disagree with ours. But if we get angry that means we don’t have good reason to agree.

3. Different societies have their own practices. There is not only one opinion that is common to all social cultures. So, we can’t avoid our social dogmatism unless we get ourselves familiar with different opinions in different contexts. Besides, we should have the patience to read or hear the opposite party’s opinions. If possible, we should travel abroad, or talk to the people having opinions different from ours.

4. We can use our imagination to avoid our mistake. We can talk to our hypothetical opponents. It is free from the limitation of time and space as we can practice it anywhere and anytime. It may help change our dogmatic opinions.

5. We shouldn’t be self-centered and praise our self-esteem. It makes us one-sided. If we’re self-centered, we overvalue our merits and forget our demerits. It makes our judgment unbalanced and unfair. So we have to avoid it.

6. Lastly, we should avoid our fear which is the common source of errors. Fear of death may make us prone to commit mistakes about life. Fear of unknown may keep us away from what is already known. Thus fears don’t let us think about many important things. Similarly, fear makes us superstitious. Only wisdom can overcome such fears, according to the writer.

Literal Comprehension:

This essay is about something which we should keep away from us to avoid silly errors. People make silly errors and face problems in their daily life. Though people are conscious, they often make a silly mistake which is easily avoidable if properly cared. We should know some of the basic things and try to avoid errors. First, we should not blindly believe whatever people say. We should not guess like Plato guessed about woman’s teeth. Secondly, we should compare and contrast the disagreeable ideas with own if the observation is impossible so that we can get the truth. Thirdly, we should avoid our dogmatism by making us familiar with different social context, their belief, and opinions. For this, we should interact with people of different communities, religions and languages. Fourthly, we should judge our opinions and minimize our cocksureness by holding our imaginary arguments with someone who holds a contrary view to us. Fifthly, we should be free from bias self esteem. It makes us blind and intensifies the feeling of intolerance. Finally, we should keep us free from fear which forces us to refuge a reality.

Interpretation:

Bertrand Russel, tries to say that people do not evaluate matter objectively. They think they know everything without knowing anything. We are proud of our own ideas and ignorant of truth and reality. We do not compare our ideas with the ideas of other people but only claim we are right. Here, he suggests simple rules which help us to keep our errors at a bay. They are an objective observation of things, comparisons of ideas, interaction with the people of different communities and religion, imaginary arguments with opponents, free from self esteem and fear. If we apply these things in our daily life, we can be free not from all errors but from silly errors.

Critical Thinking:

In this essay, Russel has advised us to apply some rules which will help us to lead successful life. This is an essay which tries to give a practical lesson. Thinking critically, I like to raise some questions on the text. Is it possible to make an objective observation of everything? How can we verify the existence of the soul? Is it possible to interact with the people of different communities? Can we progress if we try to be free from self esteem? Is it possible to be free from fear? Except for these points, I like this essay.

Assimilation:

This is a very interesting and practical essay. Before reading this essay, I was not aware about errors while doing something. After reading it, I got really good ideas to avoid silly errors. Wisdom is one of the important thing through which we can fight against superstitious faith and absurdities. Now I have decided to apply different ideas suggested by Russel.