The Truth Will Set You Free

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I like this bit of writing by Jim Phelps in his preface to Barbara Oakley's book Evil Genes. He notes that some readers have been repulsed by the information about the genetic roots of some evil behavior but counters with a statement on "the value of true understanding":

"Accurate information, on its own, is never dangerous. What we think of it, and what we do with it, can indeed be potentially very harmful. But obtaining accurate information, and thinking clearly about it, can only be helpful to us. The more we avoid trying to understand what is really happening around us, because it makes us uncomfortable or does not fit with our existing beliefs, the worse off we will be. Instead, when we use a rigorous scientific method to ask important questions and then think clearly about the implications of the results, we are more likely to live free and prosperous lives."
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