The Maniac and the Theorist: Chesterton on Critical Theory – Mere Orthodoxy
From mereorthodoxy.com
2021-08-04 10:00:30
Daniel Dorman
Excerpt:
It does not matter how beautiful a house seems, how stately its design, how lofty its ceiling, or how well intentioned its builders; a house built on sand will fall when the rain comes (Matt. 7:27). Ultimately, the premises or presuppositions of an idea dictate success or failure. ‘Great is the fall’ of the house built on sand; ‘great is the fall’ of the idea built on lies.
In Heretics, G.K. Chesterton highlights the importance of presuppositions, of first principles, with his typically piercing wit:
“[T]here are some people…— and I am one of them — who think that the most practical and important thing about a man is still his view of the universe. We think that for a landlady considering a lodger, it is important to know his income, but still more important to know his philosophy. We think that for a general about to fight an enemy, it is important to know the enemy’s numbers, but still more important to know the enemy’s philosophy. We think the question is not…