Reasonable Doubt

This month welcomed the ex-Provost of York University, Dr. John Issitt. He spoke to us about English Radicalism in the wake of the French Revolution and how the beliefs that reason and rationality would inevitably lead to a better society were put to the test.

John used the real life historical figure of Jeremiah Joyce (1763-1816) with which to examine the movement for radical societal and constitutional change inspired by events across the channel. Glazier, Unitarian Minister and tutor to the Earl of Stanhope’s children, Joyce was a member of both the Society for Constitutional Reform and the London Corresponding Society. Both organisations were in the forefront of radical thought.  The ideas that were debated in these groups made him a target of the established order and he was arrested and charged, along with several others, with ‘treasonable practices’. However, due to an overly confident and poorly presented prosecution and an excellent defence lawyer all were acquitted. All of this is covered in far more detail in John’s book ‘The Agents of Reason’.

John explained how whilst today reason and rationality are very much associated with scientific enquiry and an atheistic outlook this was not always the case. In Joyce’s age reason was a tool to strip away all the supernatural revelations, leaving one with an understanding of the mind of god.  In other words, a Deistic approach.

The main subject of the talk was meant to be Joyce and how the bloody outcome of the French Revolution had dented many people’s belief in the power of reason to create a better future. But it became clear that our speaker also had his own doubts.  

John explained how in his earlier years he had been a firm believer in the power of Rationality.  Indeed, he remembered arguments he had with people of faith and how he viewed them as misguided, ill-informed or just plain stupid.  But now, whilst not religious, he couldn’t help feeling that a world where everything choice we make could be reduced to a process of reasoning leading to a logical choice was an arid landscape indeed. Was the enjoyment of a piece of art or a beautiful landscape nothing more than a cold, calculated, logical decision?

In many ways I viewed this talk as an archaeological dig through a particular period in the history of radical thought.  But also a lament by John to his own lost belief in the transformative power of pure reason.  There was a tangible sense as John spoke of how he really wishes he still believed but he can’t. Whilst at the same time he can’t accept the more religious approach to life. Whilst John stated he was an Atheist, one of our audience asked if, in fact, he was really agnostic. That’s for John to work out.

An outstanding Q&A session followed.  Several of the audience spoke up to defend the power of reason.  Believing that the process of Rationality was valid.  It was just that ‘bad data’ was being pushed through the system leading to poor decisions and outcomes.  One believed that the problem wasn’t with Reason itself but the fact that most decisions have to be made so quickly. Our brains simply cannot work our options in a reasoned way fast enough. Therefore, bad decisions are made and poor outcomes follow.

John didn’t feel this was the case. Even if it were, we have the brains that we have. Even if it were possible, are we to change our brains to fit with the needs of Reason? Wouldn’t that make us slaves to Reason and slightly less human?

So, just another evening of light, casual debate in the local………..  

NEXT TIME: NOTE DUE TO THE WORLD CUP THIS EVENT IS A WEEK LATER THAN NORMAL – Alasdair Smith of the Anti-Academies Alliance will be explaining why he believes that Academies & Free Schools are not the way to improve education in the UK.  This will be a cracker. Bedford has so many different models of schools (2-tier, 3-tier, academies, religious schools, and a free school) that it is highly relevant to our town. Spread the word and come along. Thursday 26^th June 7pm at The White Horse. More details HERE.