Baruch Spinoza, Do not be astonished at new ideas. You know well enough that they are not less true because they are not accepted by many.

---

Baruch Spinoza's Maxim: "Do not be astonished at new ideas. You know well enough that they are not less true because they are not accepted by many."

This profound maxim by the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza offers deep insight into the nature of truth and its relationship with societal acceptance. He emphasizes that new ideas or perspectives do not lose their inherent truth, even if they are not immediately embraced by the majority.

 

Sinoza

Meaning and Content of the Maxim

Through this maxim, Spinoza conveys several key messages:

• The Independence of Truth: He stresses that truth, whether a fact or a valid assertion, is not determined by the consensus of the majority. Truth exists independently and is not swayed by human beliefs or preferences.
• The Importance of New Ideas: We should maintain an open mind toward novel ideas that might be unfamiliar or go against conventional wisdom. History often shows how a minority of new ideas have driven human progress and development.
• Limitations of Social Acceptance: If a society or group doesn't accept a particular assertion, it doesn't automatically make it false or worthless. In fact, a majority can sometimes be blinded by prejudice or custom, preventing them from recognizing the truth.
• Individual Thought and Critique: Spinoza emphasizes the importance of an individual's capacity for independent thought and critical judgment. The maxim suggests that instead of blindly conforming to the majority opinion, one should strive to explore and judge truth for themselves.

In essence, this maxim urges us to avoid hastily dismissing new ideas or minority opinions and to instead cultivate a willingness to explore their inherent truth.

Examples

Here are some historical and social examples that vividly illustrate the meaning of this maxim:

• Heliocentrism: In the 16th century, the heliocentric model, proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus and solidified by Galileo Galilei, directly contradicted the geocentric model believed by the vast majority, including the Church. Galileo faced immense pressure to recant his claims and was even brought before the Inquisition. However, scientific evidence clearly demonstrated the truth of heliocentrism, ultimately reshaping humanity's understanding of the cosmos.
• The Civil Rights Movement: In the mid-20th century in the United States, the Civil Rights Movement, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., advocated for the legitimate rights of a minority at a time when much of the white society considered racial discrimination normal. Although it faced significant resistance and opposition initially, it ultimately marked a crucial turning point in realizing universal human values of equality and human rights.
• Women's Suffrage Movement: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the idea of granting women the right to vote was considered a radical notion in male-dominated societies. It faced substantial opposition, and suffragists were often targets of scorn and ridicule. Yet, through their persistent efforts, women's suffrage eventually became a universally recognized right.
• Steve Jobs' Ideas: When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs first unveiled the iPhone, many people were skeptical about a phone operated solely by a touchscreen. For those accustomed to physical keypads, the iPhone was an unfamiliar "new idea." However, the iPhone eventually spearheaded a revolution in the smartphone market and transformed the lives of people worldwide.

These examples demonstrate that Spinoza's maxim holds true across time. New ideas, though initially marginalized or criticized, can, if they contain truth, ultimately gain acceptance and possess the power to change the world.

 

Baruch Spinoza: A Radical 17th-Century Philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) was a pivotal 17th-century philosopher known for his pantheism, which equated God with nature. He viewed God not as a transcendent being, but as the single substance inherent in the entire universe. Unlike Descartes, Spinoza didn't separate mind and matter. He proposed monism, arguing that all things are merely different attributes of this single substance (God/Nature). He also believed that every entity possesses a tendency to preserve its own being (conatus). True freedom, in his view, comes from understanding that all events occur through necessary causal relationships and then acting rationally based on this understanding. His ideas were a challenge to the religious conventions of his time but profoundly influenced later Western philosophy.

 

source: wiki