CHAPTER XIII

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

I

It will probably cause surprise if I say there is, possibly, more intellectual freedom in Ireland than elsewhere in Europe.  But I do not mean by intellectual freedom conventional Free-thought, which is, perhaps, as far as any superstition from true freedom of the mind.  The point may not be admitted but its consideration will clear the air, and help to dispose of some objections hindering that spiritual freedom, fundamental to all liberty.

II

I have no intention here of in any way criticising the doctrine of Free-thought, but one so named cannot be ignored when we consider Intellectual Freedom.  This, then, has to be borne in mind when speaking of Free-thought, that while it allows you latitude of opinion in many things, it will not allow you freedom in all things, in, for example, Revealed Religion.  I only mention this to show that on both sides of such burning questions you have disputants dogmatic.  A dogmatic “yes” meets an equally dogmatic “no.”  The dogmas differ and it is not part of our business here to discuss them:  but to come to a clear conception of the matter in hand, it must be kept in mind, that if you, notwithstanding, freely of your own accord, accept belief in certain doctrines, the freethinkers will for that deny you freedom.  And the freethinkers are right in that they are dogmatic. (But this they themselves appear to overlook.) Freedom is absolutely dogmatic.  It is fundamentally false that freedom implies no attachment to any belief, no being bound by any law, “As free as the wind,” as the saying goes, for the wind is not free.  Simple indeterminism is not liberty.

III

We must, then, find the true conception of Intellectual Freedom.  It is the freedom of the individual to follow his star and reach his goal.  That star binds him down to certain lines and his freedom is in exact proportion to his fidelity to the lines.  The seeming paradox may be puzzling:  a concrete example will make it clear.  Suppose a man, shipwrecked, finds himself at sea in an open boat, without his bearings or a rudder.  He is at the mercy of the wind and wave, without freedom, helpless.  But give him his bearings and a helm, and at once he recovers his course; he finds his position and can strike the path to freedom.  He is at perfect liberty to scuttle his boat, drive it on the rocks or do any other irrational thing; but if he would have freedom, he must follow his star.

IV