Why This Matters
The resurgence of heresy in modern discourse highlights how social and professional environments increasingly prioritize ideological conformity over truth, impacting free expression and innovation in the tech industry. Recognizing this shift is crucial for fostering open dialogue and maintaining a culture of critical thinking among consumers and professionals alike.
Key Takeaways
- Labels like 'x-ist' are used to dismiss discussions and end debates without considering truth.
- Heresy now influences employment and social acceptance, often prioritizing ideology over facts.
- Encouraging open dialogue can help prevent the suppression of truthful ideas in tech and society.
April 2022
One of the most surprising things I've witnessed in my lifetime is the rebirth of the concept of heresy.
In his excellent biography of Newton, Richard Westfall writes about the moment when he was elected a fellow of Trinity College: Supported comfortably, Newton was free to devote himself wholly to whatever he chose. To remain on, he had only to avoid the three unforgivable sins: crime, heresy, and marriage. [ 1 ] The first time I read that, in the 1990s, it sounded amusingly medieval. How strange, to have to avoid committing heresy. But when I reread it 20 years later it sounded like a description of contemporary employment.
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