Unit Three Groundless Beliefs

Period 7-8: Detailed Study of theText

1. The same thingis true, of course, of many beliefs other than those of a religious nature.(para. 3)

— Not only arereligious beliefs like this. Many other beliefs are, too.

other than: This expression usually means "except,"but here it means "apart from." This usage, however, is notconsidered standard by many. Notice the pattem "to be true of sth."

2. But as we leavechildhood, we tend to accept only such new ideas as fit in with the ideas wealready hold... (para. 4)

fit in with: to say the same thing or follow the sameprinciple; to agree with

If we tend toaccept such new ideas as fit in with the ideas we already hold, they are,strictly speaking, no looger new ideas. Therefore it is often the case thatwhen we say we are thinking, we are really rearranging our deeply-rootedprejudices. Experience has told us that it is not easy to develop and acceptnew ideas. The psychological reasons might be: 1) New ideas require a greateffort to discover and absorb, aod people have a naturall tendency to be lazy(the force of inertia); 2) New ideas always threaten our sense of security, andpeople usually prefer not to enter what they consider dangerous waters (thefear of the unknown); 3) New ideas imply that our old ideas are wrong, andpeople feel that they make them foolish. They refuse to accept them in order tosave face; 4) New ideas always put some vested interests in danger, aod peopleoften reject them to cling on to those interests.

3. But we shouldfully face the fact that beliefs which are merely inherited from the past musthave originated at a time when men knew much less than they know today. So thefact that a belief is "old" is no argument in its favor. (para. 5)

— One of our commoomistakes is to accept beliefs sirnply on the merit of their long history. Butthe author is right to say that the fact a belief is old is no argumeot in itsfavor. There are many old prejudices which have been proved wrong. However, onemight also add that the fact a belief is new is no argument in its favoreither, because it has not stood the test of time and is likely to pass likemany fashionable things. So we might use the author's own approach to classifyhis proposition that the fact a belief is old is no argument in its favoraccording to its grounds. And we might say it is well-grounded because it is truethat many old ideas originated at a time when we knew much less than we dotoday. But we can also say that it is not so well-grounded because the factthat a belief is old sometimes does mean that it has been proved correct againand again in history.

be inherited from the past: to be passed on from the past

in its favor: in its support

4. When we findourselves entertaining an opinion about which there is a feeling that even toenquire into it would be absurd, unnecessary, undesirable or wicked—we may knowthat opinion is a non-rational one. (Para. 7)

  entertain:to allow oneself to think about an idea, a hope or a feeling, tec.心存……；怀有（想法等）

  — Another common mistake we make is to judgeopinions according to our feeling. An opinion is true because it is true, notbecause we like it or find it desirable or useful. In fact, truth can often beunpleasant or painful whereas untruth can be soothing and attractive. That iswhy opinions are often bitterly debated or enthusiastically cherished,precisely because their truthfulness is not established.

5. Until Galileoactually demonstrated the contrary, nothing could have seemed more beyondpossibility or doubt. (para. 12)

demonstrate the contrary: to prove that the contrary is true by meansof a demonstration

be beyond possibility or doubt: to be impossibleor unquestionable

6. Progress inhuman thought seems to consist mainly in getting rid of such ideas. (para. 13)

Compare: consistof/ consist in

consist of: to be made of or composed of, e.g.

   Thecompany consists of five departrnents.

   The bookconsists of twelve chapters.

consist in: to have a basis in; to lie in; to be found in,e.g.

   Happinessconsists in appreciating what you have.

   Wisdomconsists in leaming from our own mjstakes.

7. Other beliefsare held through self-interest. Modern psychology leaves us no room for doubton this point. We adopt and cling to some beliefs because—or partly because—it"pays" us to do so. (para. 14)

— This is obviousand has been proved by psychology. Take for example our bclicl‘ lhat buman beingsare superior to all other species. We hold and cling to this belief because itis in our interest to believe that all other species are created to serve ourneeds, a view no other anirnals, in so far as they can have a view, wilIaccept. The author does not say wbether it is possible for us to transcend ourinterest in forrning our belief. The answer is yes, but it is possible onlywhen we can forgo selfish considerations.

leave no room for doubt: to make it impossible for people to doubt

pay sb to do sth: to bring benefit or advantage to sb to dosth, e.g.

   It paysto tell people the truth.

   It paysto forgive others.

   lt doesn't pay to work too hard at the expense of your health.

8. But, as a rule,the person concerned is about the last person in the world to be able torecognize this in himself. (para. 14)

— People who holdthose beliefs through self-interest usually will not admit this. They usuallytry to cloak themselves with beautiful altruistic words.

as a rule: generally speaking; usually

be the last person to do sth: to be the leastpossible person to do sth

9. We all know theperson who has a string of stock anecdotes. (para. 23)

a string of: a number of (similar things); a series of

stock anecdotes: stories about your personal experiencestbat you keep telling people when ever you can think of nothing else to tell

10. Yet when fullallowance has been made for all these non-rational factors in the determinationof opinion, there remains-not in all minds, not in most minds, but in some-adesire to discover the facts; to think things out in a clear and rational way;to get at the truth at all costs, whatever it may turn out to be! (para. 25)

— Yet in spite ofall these factors which make it difficult for people to form their opinions rationally,there are still some people who have a desire to think in a clear and rationalway; and to do everything possible to find the truth, no matter whether thetruth is pleasant or unpleasant.

make allowance for: to consider sth when making a decision, e.g

   We mustmake allowance for unexpected factors when we give our forecast of next year'seconomic performance.

   Evenwhen full allowances were made for the unusually favorable conditions we had lastyear, our achievement was stiU remarkable.