The tyranny of our systems (Berry)
March 24th, 2007 | Published in Quotes, Religion, Science, Truth
For a long time we humans have fairly successfully (but not invariably) avoided error within our systems of thought, but the systems themselves have often proved to be wrong. That is, our systems have made it possible (within the limits of the systems) to be consistent, but they have not preserved us from error. Our experience suggests that they cannot preserve us from error. Should we regret this? Probably not, since it is always the errors of our systems that have released us (so far) from the tyranny of our systems.
–Wendell Berry, Life is a Miracle: An Essay Against Modern Superstition (2000), 33