Blind commitment to a theory is not an intellectual virtue: it is an intellectual crime.
Interpretation
Blindly following a theory without questioning it is a serious intellectual mistake.
Imre Lakatos emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and skepticism in intellectual pursuits. He suggests that blindly adhering to a theory without questioning or challenging its validity undermines true knowledge and understanding, labeling such commitment an intellectual crime rather than a virtue.
In practice
During a debate on scientific theories, you can use this quote to remind participants to question assumptions.
It would be wrong to assume that one must stay with a research programme until it has exhausted all its heuristic power, that one must not introduce a rival programme before everybody agrees that the point of degeneration has probably been reached.
If even in science there is no a way of judging a theory but by assessing the number, faith and vocal energy of its supporters, then this must be even more so in the social sciences: truth lies in power.
No experimental result can ever kill a theory: any theory can be saved from counterinstances either by some auxiliary hypothesis or by a suitable reinterpretation of its terms.
Philosophy of science without history of science is empty; history of science without philosophy of science is blind.
It is not that we propose a theory and Nature may shout NO; rather, we propose a maze of theories, and Nature may shout INCONSISTENT.
Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between these two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character, and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.
Life is too short to be wasted in finding answers. Enjoy the questions.
I shall have to believe even though I cannot understand.
My motto is, 'What's the hurry?' I'm trying to get it across to the modern world that we need to sit around and think a little bit more.
Pride comes from not knowing yourself and the world. The older you grow, and the more you see, the less reason you will find for being proud. Ignorance and inexperience are the pedestal of pride; once the pedestal is removed - pride will soon come down.
I have lived some thirty years on this planet, and I have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors.
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