Don’t argue: build
Daniel Lemire's blog
Prescientific and preindustrial thought tied truth to authority and tradition. “We’ve always done it this way.” “The king decrees it.” “We know this is how it’s done.”
The scientific and industrial revolutions shattered this mindset. Suddenly, outsiders could challenge entrenched norms. Two brothers in a rundown workshop could build empires to rival the wealthiest lords. Ordinary people could question the highest authorities.
What made this possible? A belief in objective truth. Reality exists independently of our perceptions. For Christians, this meant God created a discoverable world, and humanity’s role was to uncover its workings and harness them.
How could an individual stand against tradition or authority? Through facts. A new method is cheaper—or it isn’t. It’s faster—or it isn’t. It yields better results—or it doesn’t.
This is the essence of progress: you can improve, and you can prove it.
The British Empire dominated the seas, waged wars, and abolished slavery not because of superior manpower or land, but through better governance, business practices, and science.
Not every question is empirical, but the critical ones often are. To make your case, build it and demonstrate its value. That is the heart of the scientific revolution
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