Single Idea 22520

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 9. Limits of Reason]

Full Idea

Reasoning will never make a man correct an ill opinion, which by reasoning he never acquired.

Gist of Idea

You can't reason someone out of an irrational opinion

Source

Jonathan Swift (Letters to a Young Clergyman [1720])


A Reaction

It would be hard to prove this, and someone full of irrational beliefs may have their rationality awakened by a sound argument. Nice remark, but too pessimistic.