Three Things

a musing

1. Chesterton’s Fence:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, "I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away." To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: "If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it."

I’ve seen a couple of uses of “the fallacy of Chesterton’s Fence” (for example, by my friend Keith Lee here) but it’s not really a fallacy. It’s a parable or a principle.

I haven’t found a strong argument against the principle. Someone might say, “I don’t have to know why the fence was put up to kn…