“Disregard the authority of others, as there are always alternative authorities to be found…”

During the height of McCarthyism in 1951, philosopher Bertrand Russell published an article titled

“The Best Answer to Fanaticism—Liberalism”

in The New York Times Magazine. Russell did not endorse any specific political party or economic system. Instead, he advocated for an intellectual mindset characterized by humility, openness to evidence, and tolerance for dissenting viewpoints. He perceived this approach as humanity’s most effective defense against fanaticism and authoritarianism.

The article concludes with Russell’s “New Decalogue”—ten principles for a free mind:

1. Refrain from absolute certainty in any belief.

2. Refrain from concealing evidence in the pursuit of belief, as it is inevitable to be discovered.

3. Refrain from attempting to suppress thought, as it is likely to be successful.

4. When confronted with opposition, even from family members, strive to overcome it through argument rather than relying solely on authority. A victory contingent upon authority is ephemeral and illusory.

5. Disregard the authority of others, as there are always alternative authorities to be found.

6. Refrain from using power to suppress opinions deemed pernicious, as such opinions may ultimately suppress you.

7. Embrace eccentricity in your opinions, as every currently accepted opinion was once considered unconventional.

8. Find greater pleasure in intelligent dissent than in passive agreement. If you value intelligence as you should, intelligent dissent implies a deeper level of agreement than passive conformity.

9. Be meticulously truthful, even when truth is inconvenient, as concealment is more disruptive than candidness.

10. Refrain from harboring envy towards the contentment of those who reside in a state of naivety, as only a fool can perceive it as happiness.