I am frequently struck by the applicability of Richard Price's insights to the modern world. Price was born in a Welsh village, the son of the Minister of the Chapel, in 1723. His talents were such that he went on to become not only a Dissenting Minister himself but also an adviser to the Government on finance, a mathematician deeply involved in putting Insurance on a sound footing, a moral philosopher and a nationally known political pamphleteer. Despite being a churchman he was against obscurantism and argued for liberty both politically and for free inquiry and free speech. He was convinced that the truth had nothing to fear from free rational debate and that a man's conscience could not be dictated to by anybody.
Price would be horrified by our sound-bite culture, and by the encouragement that wilful ignorance gets from religion. In his book "Review of the Principal Questions in Morals" first published when he was 35, Price argues in one place from the then recent scientific discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton to make his case. He was a friend of Joseph Priestly, another Dissenting Minister and the discoverer of Oxygen, concurrently with and independently of Lavoisier. It was Price who published the notes of Joshua Bayes, the discoverer of Bayes' Theorem, the foundation of mathematical probability that still underlies Insurance and much else. Bayes too was a Dissenting Minister, although of a different persuasion to Price. But it is typical of Price that the differences of opinion that he had with both Bayes and Priestly did not dim his admiration of their scientific work. For Price, reason and rationality were extremely important. All three of these churchmen were elected members of the Royal Society for their contributions to science. Hard to imagine today, isn't it?
But back to our sound-bite culture in which politicians and celebrities are encouraged to give their opinions on everything under the sun on television. Price was scathing on speaking with neither thought nor knowledge. Price, a man who was never shy to think, and think hard, says, in Chapter 1 of the book mentioned above "There are hardly any subjects so plain, as not to require care and attention to form a competent judgment of them." He continued "What then must we think of those whom we continually see readily delivering their sentiments concerning points they have never considered; and deciding peremptorily, without thought or study, on the most difficult questions? If such are ever right it can only be by chance. They speak and think entirely at random, and therefore deserve no regard." I get the feeling he had a television! He then goes on to make the point that arriving at the truth of any matter is not easy. "The more we know of men, the more we find that they are governed, in forming and maintaining their opinions, by their tempers, by interest, by humour and passion, and a thousand nameless causes and particular turns and casts of mind, which cannot but produce the greatest diversity of sentiments among them and make it impossible for them not to err. There are in truth none who are possessed of that cool and dispassionate temper, that freedom from all wrong byasses (sic), that habit of attention and patience of thought, and, also, that penetration and sagacity of mind, which are proper securities against error. How much then do modesty and diffidence become us? how open ought we be to conviction, and how candid to those of different sentiments?"
The word "candid" was used differently in 1785 (two years before the 3rd edition of Price's "Review") to our use of it. In his ground breaking dictionary published in that year, Dr Johnson gives "Candid … Free from malice; not desirous to find faults; open; ingenuous" and "Candidness … Openness of temper; purity of mind" and he includes for candour "sweetness of temper". So when Price says that we should be "candid to those of different sentiments" he means that we should listen open-mindedly, without rancour and ill-will or ill-humour and give their arguments the weight they are worth and discuss differences reasonably and rationally.
Price's model, forged in the 1750s, is much needed today.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Greek Referendum
Everyone seems to be surprised, angered, struck dumb, by the decision to hold a referendum in Greece. I am personally a believer in representative government. I think it achieves the aims described by Richard Price (1723-1791) in that it will “collect into it most of the knowledge and experience of the community, and at the same time carry it into execution with most dispatch and vigour”1. So long as the elected representatives are free men, freely chosen by the whole community, are elected for short terms and can be held to account by the electors Price thinks this is the best way to arrange for the will of the people to be carried out. To which I would add that it avoids the worst effects of short-sighted and emotive or uninformed responses to events. But in the case of the Greek decision I can appreciate the argument for a referendum as well.
Excuse me quoting Price, but I am doing some work on him at the moment and am familiar with, as well as in admiration of, his writings. Price warned that “Civil governors see themselves not as servants but as masters”2. And so, it seems do foreign Politicians, Bankers and Captains of Industry who all object to consulting the Greek people and putting the deal at risk. Their fear or assumption appears to be that these people will reject the deal reached by their betters for reasons of short-sighted self interest. They don't want austerity and they don't want to pay taxes.
Price also wrote that “All civil governors are trustees for the people governed, and when they abuse their trust they forfeit their authority”3. The possible abuse of trust in question here is falsely representing the state of the Greek economy in order to join the ECU and get the benefit of Community handouts. Another possible abuse of trust is the actions of those whose mismanagement of the economy got Greece, and indeed the rest of Europe, into this state to start with. And in that event another of Price's sayings comes to mind. “Without all doubt, it is the choice of the people that makes civil governors. The people are the spring of all civil power and they have a right to modify it as they please.”4
A Greek commentator on the BBC this evening said something to the effect that the Greek people were not the ones who lied about the economy to get into the ECU and the Greek people are the ones who are being asked to pay for it. Everything I know about Price's thoughts on civil government indicates that he would have had the utmost sympathy with their objection to being ridden over by their political and financial masters.
Price wrote: “I am very sensible that civil government, as it actually exists in the world, by no means answers to the account I have given of it. Instead of being an institution for guarding the weak against the strong, we find an institution which makes the strong yet stronger and gives them a systematical power of oppressing. Instead of promoting virtue and restraining vice, establishing liberty, and protecting alike all peaceable persons in the enjoyment of their civil and religious rights, we see a savage despotism, under its name, laying waste the earth, unreasonably elevating some and depressing others and trampling upon every human right.”5 I cannot help but feel that the Greek people are the ones who are paying for the misuse of power by others, and would be an excellent example of the situation that Price had in mind 200 years ago.
Just maybe George Papandreou had in mind that “Civil government is an expedient for collecting the wisdom and force of a community or confederacy in order to preserve its peace and liberty against every hostile invasion, whether from within or from without.”6 Maybe he thought that it was right to collect the wisdom and force of the Greek people, faced as they are with such an awful prospect, that he is their servant, not their master so he should get their authority, and maybe he also thinks that when the case is put before them they will act honourably and with responsibility and support his deal and as a result bring some social and political peace to the ravaged nation.
Notes:
1. Two Tracts, in Price Political Writings, Ed D.O.Thomas 1991, p80
2. Op cit p89
3. A Fast Sermon in Thomas Op cit p106
4. Two Tracts Op cit p88
5. Two Tracts Op cit p89
6. On the Importance of the American Revolution in Thomas Op cit p122
Excuse me quoting Price, but I am doing some work on him at the moment and am familiar with, as well as in admiration of, his writings. Price warned that “Civil governors see themselves not as servants but as masters”2. And so, it seems do foreign Politicians, Bankers and Captains of Industry who all object to consulting the Greek people and putting the deal at risk. Their fear or assumption appears to be that these people will reject the deal reached by their betters for reasons of short-sighted self interest. They don't want austerity and they don't want to pay taxes.
Price also wrote that “All civil governors are trustees for the people governed, and when they abuse their trust they forfeit their authority”3. The possible abuse of trust in question here is falsely representing the state of the Greek economy in order to join the ECU and get the benefit of Community handouts. Another possible abuse of trust is the actions of those whose mismanagement of the economy got Greece, and indeed the rest of Europe, into this state to start with. And in that event another of Price's sayings comes to mind. “Without all doubt, it is the choice of the people that makes civil governors. The people are the spring of all civil power and they have a right to modify it as they please.”4
A Greek commentator on the BBC this evening said something to the effect that the Greek people were not the ones who lied about the economy to get into the ECU and the Greek people are the ones who are being asked to pay for it. Everything I know about Price's thoughts on civil government indicates that he would have had the utmost sympathy with their objection to being ridden over by their political and financial masters.
Price wrote: “I am very sensible that civil government, as it actually exists in the world, by no means answers to the account I have given of it. Instead of being an institution for guarding the weak against the strong, we find an institution which makes the strong yet stronger and gives them a systematical power of oppressing. Instead of promoting virtue and restraining vice, establishing liberty, and protecting alike all peaceable persons in the enjoyment of their civil and religious rights, we see a savage despotism, under its name, laying waste the earth, unreasonably elevating some and depressing others and trampling upon every human right.”5 I cannot help but feel that the Greek people are the ones who are paying for the misuse of power by others, and would be an excellent example of the situation that Price had in mind 200 years ago.
Just maybe George Papandreou had in mind that “Civil government is an expedient for collecting the wisdom and force of a community or confederacy in order to preserve its peace and liberty against every hostile invasion, whether from within or from without.”6 Maybe he thought that it was right to collect the wisdom and force of the Greek people, faced as they are with such an awful prospect, that he is their servant, not their master so he should get their authority, and maybe he also thinks that when the case is put before them they will act honourably and with responsibility and support his deal and as a result bring some social and political peace to the ravaged nation.
Notes:
1. Two Tracts, in Price Political Writings, Ed D.O.Thomas 1991, p80
2. Op cit p89
3. A Fast Sermon in Thomas Op cit p106
4. Two Tracts Op cit p88
5. Two Tracts Op cit p89
6. On the Importance of the American Revolution in Thomas Op cit p122
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Eating Out
With all the visitors we've had lately we've tried a few restaurants and I thought people might be interested in the results.
First a place that isn't really a restaurant, but of which Bonnie is very fond and all our American visitors have loved: The Old Forge at Cranford (http://theoldforgecranford.com/). It's what it says, an old forge, restored into a tea-shop. The food is very pleasant, the helpings more than adequate, and the welcome warm. If the weather is nice, it is pleasant to sit outside. It's a very pleasant place for a late breakfast, a not-so-lite lunch, or afternoon tea.
Now for the restaurants. The Red Lion at East Haddon (http://www.redlioneasthaddon.co.uk/) has an enviable reputation, and has recently opened a cookery school. We've been twice lately, and each time the food was excellent. But on the second occasion the service was in melt-down. Bonnie had to send her steak back as it was not cooked to her specification, the two people at the table opposite got their main courses at a wide interval, and the party on the table next to me had a nightmare experience. The usual Head Waiter was on duty and was properly apologetic, but it seemed to me that the rest of the staff were under-trained short-notice stand-ins. That can happen. Who knows what had caused the regular staff to be absent. The first time we were there it was excellent all round, so I hope this was a one off. The food is so good we're bound to go back for another try in the not too distant future.
I've long enjoyed The Samuel Pepys at Slipton (http://www.samuel-pepys.com/). Once again the food was wonderful – we had a table full of American guests who were all full of praise for it. Sadly here too there was a service issue. Once the full party had arrived no-one appeared to take our order or even look to our need for drinks. After 10-15 minutes I button-holed the passing manager who took our order with a scowling visage and made no attempt to make us feel welcome or to express his regret at the lack of service so far. However, once the normal waiting staff took over, everything went like clockwork and the young man who seemed to be responsible for our table was charm and efficiency rolled into one.
Next, an unqualified success – The Cock at Hemingford Grey (http://www.thecockhemingford.co.uk/) – a little further than we normally go, but easy enough on the A14 and the extra standard they achieve more than repays the effort. They won the National Dining Pub of the Year last year and won the regional stage again this year. I'd very much like to see somewhere that can beat them. The menu is very interesting, the wine list likewise, the food is excellent, and the service as good as I have had at Michelin Starred restaurants. It is impossible to imagine the kind of cock-up described in the two pubs above happening here. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them warmly to my friends.
I'll be eating at The Falcon at Fotheringhay (http://www.thefalcon-inn.co.uk/) and The Plough at Bolnhurst (http://www.bolnhurst.com/)soon. Watch for my assessments!
First a place that isn't really a restaurant, but of which Bonnie is very fond and all our American visitors have loved: The Old Forge at Cranford (http://theoldforgecranford.com/). It's what it says, an old forge, restored into a tea-shop. The food is very pleasant, the helpings more than adequate, and the welcome warm. If the weather is nice, it is pleasant to sit outside. It's a very pleasant place for a late breakfast, a not-so-lite lunch, or afternoon tea.
Now for the restaurants. The Red Lion at East Haddon (http://www.redlioneasthaddon.co.uk/) has an enviable reputation, and has recently opened a cookery school. We've been twice lately, and each time the food was excellent. But on the second occasion the service was in melt-down. Bonnie had to send her steak back as it was not cooked to her specification, the two people at the table opposite got their main courses at a wide interval, and the party on the table next to me had a nightmare experience. The usual Head Waiter was on duty and was properly apologetic, but it seemed to me that the rest of the staff were under-trained short-notice stand-ins. That can happen. Who knows what had caused the regular staff to be absent. The first time we were there it was excellent all round, so I hope this was a one off. The food is so good we're bound to go back for another try in the not too distant future.
I've long enjoyed The Samuel Pepys at Slipton (http://www.samuel-pepys.com/). Once again the food was wonderful – we had a table full of American guests who were all full of praise for it. Sadly here too there was a service issue. Once the full party had arrived no-one appeared to take our order or even look to our need for drinks. After 10-15 minutes I button-holed the passing manager who took our order with a scowling visage and made no attempt to make us feel welcome or to express his regret at the lack of service so far. However, once the normal waiting staff took over, everything went like clockwork and the young man who seemed to be responsible for our table was charm and efficiency rolled into one.
Next, an unqualified success – The Cock at Hemingford Grey (http://www.thecockhemingford.co.uk/) – a little further than we normally go, but easy enough on the A14 and the extra standard they achieve more than repays the effort. They won the National Dining Pub of the Year last year and won the regional stage again this year. I'd very much like to see somewhere that can beat them. The menu is very interesting, the wine list likewise, the food is excellent, and the service as good as I have had at Michelin Starred restaurants. It is impossible to imagine the kind of cock-up described in the two pubs above happening here. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them warmly to my friends.
I'll be eating at The Falcon at Fotheringhay (http://www.thefalcon-inn.co.uk/) and The Plough at Bolnhurst (http://www.bolnhurst.com/)soon. Watch for my assessments!
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