curio

philosophy

Why Chesterton Wouldn't Remove the Fence

In 1929, G. K.

Chesterton described a passerby who wanted a stone fence gone. Chesterton asked, first, what the fence was doing there.

A fence might mark a property line, stop cattle, or keep a road from a cliff. If you remove it before learning its job, ignorance turns into damage.

Laws, rituals, software settings — the same question applies. An awkward barrier can be an old solution still on duty.

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