"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments, and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." This quote has been variously attributed to Herbert Spencer in The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and to William Paley in 1794 in "A View of the Evidences of Christianity."
In the simplest terms I can think of, "Look before you Leap" or you may be "Jumping to the Wrong Conclusion." I prefer the expression "Contempt prior to investigation" because it gets to the meat of a false and strong emotional response usually based on hatred, oppression or prejudice.
A great historical example of "Contempt Prior to Investigation" might be the book or movie "The Elephant Man." Born with a congenital disorder; John Merrick earns his living in a sideshow. Severely deformed, Mr. Merrick ends this 1980 Historical Drama with "I am not an animal! I am a human being!"
If I may misquote the Bible, "take the log out of your own eye before you try to remove the twig from your brother's." All of this serves to remind me that I am not "holier than thou."
Have you ever "Rushed to Judgement"?
POLL: Have you ever witnessed, or do you have any examples from your own experience of "CONTEMPT Prior to INVESTIGATION"? [No need to limit yourself to the context of Addiction and Recovery. These types of Lessons in Humility Abound in the Human Experience.]
THANKS!
*****
Immerse yourself in my Descent into Addiction and eventual Recovery in my Autobiographical Fiction, ALL DRINKING ASIDE: The Destruction, Deconstruction & Reconstruction of an Alcoholic Animal
(Find it on Amazon. Book it here): http://amzn.to/1bX6JyO
#alcoholism #addiction #recovery #books
No comments:
Post a Comment