Saturday, September 07, 2024
Freethinking
Jonathan Swift, "Mr. Collins's Discourse of Freethinking; Put into Plain English by Way of Abstract," in his Works, vol. II (London: Henry G. Bohn, 1859), pp. 193-200 (at 197):
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From these many notorious instances of the priests' conduct, I conclude they are not to be relied on in any one thing relating to religion, but that every man must think freely for himself.
But to this it may be objected that the bulk of mankind is as well qualified for flying as thinking; and if every man thought it his duty to think freely, and trouble his neighbour with his thoughts (which is an essential part of freethinking), it would make wild work in the world. I answer; whoever cannot think freely may let it alone if he pleases by virtue of his right to think freely; that is to say, if such a man freely thinks that he cannot think freely, of which every man is a sufficient judge, why then he need not think freely unless he thinks fit.
