The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-05-19
THE JUDGMENT.
4 Faculty That Needs to BE Faithfully
Cultivated.


There is probably no human faculty
that is more in need of faithful and pa.
tent cultivation than the judgment, for
! there is none that has more complica-
tons to deal with or more difficulties
to overcome. Nevertheless, there is
perhaps none which receives less sys-
tematic discipline or upon which people
generally are less willing to expend
labor and thought They train their
children's memory; exercise their
powers of expression; school them in
habits of industry, endurance, patience,
and self-control; but seldom discipline
their judgment or teach them how to
draw correct conclusions. That, they
suppose, is something which time and
experience will do for them; vet when
they see what hasty opinions and i'll
advised judgments are continually
formed by older people, they might in
fer that some definite education i'm this
respect was necessary for both young
and old.
There is a universal tendency to be.
lieve as really true that which is de-
sired to be true; and to resist that tend
ency is perhaps the first and most es-
sential step in this kind of mental dis
cipline. Some new theory is pro-
pounded which excites human SYM
pathies. 1t is hoped it can be estab-
lished, and, with that feeling, those who
like it proceed to investigate it. Al
though they doubtless mean 10 be i'm
partial, they yet welcome the evil
| dences in favor of it with alacrity,
and listen TO the objections against
it with reluctance. Unless they are
very much upon their guard against
this influence, they will accept the
theory upon insufficient evidence. and.
whether it be true or not, their belief i'm
it will only prove their weakness Or
some proposed reform is presented to
them, against which their accustomed
habits OF thought and their preiudices
rebel. Perhaps it may involve duties
which they should dislike or sacrifices
they are not ready to make, and they
sincerely hope it may prove to be wild
and visionary. Now with such a bias
they are in danger of deciding against
| it, simply because they do not like it.
although they may imagine they have
| given it the most impartial cOnsidera-
ton. A charge is made or report is
| circulated against their friend or their
| favorite candidate. How Indignantly
they resent it, and, when proofs are
| offered, how they struggle to refute
them! But let similar charges be
brought against their foe or the candi-
date of the opposition party, and how
willingly they listen to them, how
easily they can be brought to believe
them One man is by constitution and
habit of mind cons. rvative; he clings to
old ideas, Old habits and old fashions,
and his impulse is To reject new notions
| and new customs because they are ueU
Another by birth and training is radi-
cal; he lets old things slip from him
without pang, and receives all novel
ties with open arms.
Now all these impulses are natural
and not to be condemned, but they are
impulses for which due allowance
should be made in forming any judg-
ment and in drawing any conclusion.
All preferences impose an obligation to
| give more weight to the opposite side
As men know they viii be influenced by
their wishes, they should insist upon
dwelling longer and more carefully on
the arguments that thwart them. They
should practice wholesome self-abne-
CATION as far as possible, resisting the
force that agrees with their wishes, and
welcoming that which opposes them,
thus doing all in their power to restore
hn kal NH oh inf. has
| DESTROYED. Prof. Faraday to illustrate
the rarity of impartial judgments, al
ludes TO the very common amusement
of fastening ring to long thread and
holding it Suspended over glass TO no.
tice its movements, and see whether it
will tap the glass at the mention OF
some name or letter, or other signal.
Though every one who tries the expert
ment disclaims the possibility of an in
voluntary motion of the hand in the de-
sired direction, Prof. T. said he had
rarely seen any one who was willing to
put it to the proof by screening the OBJ
ject from sight and having its position
then changed. Yet it would seem that
any one really desiring to discover the
truth about even so trifiing matter
would eagerlywelcome every means that
could throw light upon it.
One effect of resisting inclination in
the exercise of Judgment will be to pre-
vent hasty decisions. There are emer-
gencies when rapid judgments must be
made and speedy action must follow.
But it is likely the larger number of
conclusions would be improved by de-
lay. 1t is an easy thing to accept as
true or best what we wish to be so
without weighing or sitting the evil
dence. But to Judge wisely and well
takes both labor and time. Suspension
of Judgment at certain times and for
certain periods is the best mental state
men can be in. When we remember
how many complex conditions are in
volved, and how difficult it is to under
stand and appreciate those conditions,
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