Errare humanum est, or the Path to truth is through error

Errare humanum est! The Latin aphorism, spoken by the great orator mark Seneca the Elder, known throughout the world and means that the error is the path to the truth. Why is this aphorism remains relevant forever? We will try to answer this question.

Error - property laws

To err is Human. We all have heard it. Worldwide known Latin aphorism - Errare humanum est - has a counterpart in the Russian language: "do Not mistake the one who does nothing". In personal experience, the scientific discoveries, in the whole community can be laid bug. The question is the degree of responsibility for it.

Indeed, in order to implement progressive development, the error is simply necessary. What is its nature? This is an area of ignorance, a field experiment with the boundaries of knowledge. If a person knows the solution to the problem, for it is not difficult to choose the best path of development. Not important scale, this applies to both the individual and society as a whole.

Nature of the error

In its development, people are constantly overcomes its own borders. Therefore, it is difficult given man knowledge. No matter, it's the practical (how to do something) or a process of spiritual growth. In the process of selecting a person commits an act. He always chooses. But not always correctly. And the price of failure is different. Hence another saying: "Man himself is punishing, like no one else can do it."

The Nature of the error is hidden in the mechanism of cognition: Errare humanum est! Error - ignorance of the best option. But thanks to her new prospects and opportunities. The learning experience is always fraught with risk of erroneous choice, but there is no other choice. Experiment - this is the verification of the truthfulness of the decision, any hypothesis is confirmed empirically.

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History knows many facts when repeating the failure in the experiments led to the discovery of the world.

Historical mistakes

History knows cases when the error was the cause of discoveries of global importance. For example, the error in the trajectory of Maritime voyages of Columbus gave a chance to discover America.

An Erroneous principle of socialist equality, lies at the basis of the Soviet state, showed example of the power of the ideological Foundation of society.

Not always a mistake leads to the truth. Often it reveals the imperfection in knowledge, the limitations of our capabilities and provides impetus to search for the best option. In this sense one can also speak of the creative power of mistakes.

Errare humanum est! The translation of this Latin expression literally reads: "Error inherent in human nature". Indeed, all the way to the development of Homo sapiens is a movement towards nature, self-knowledge, the process of self-improvement. And the original principle of the imperfection of his nature is the recognition of the a priori error in the selection of scenario.

Equivalents of the expression

In the Russian verbal creativity there are many similar, high-capacity content statements:

• "do Not mistake the one who does nothing".
• "learn from mistakes".
• "Error - the right solution when other conditions".

Rich in content and the words of the great figures of the world, who have every right to say error, because their contribution to the development of human society immeasurably.

• "Freedom is nothing if the right to exclude the error" (M. Gandhi).
• "the Majority is always wrong, the truth is in the minority" (Ibsen).
• "a wise man is not only wrong, but gives a chance to the others" (Churchill).

All statements have the same meaning: the recognition of errors is a condition of human freedom, everyone has the right to do so.

As said Chesterfield: "the Fear of the possibility of error should not discourage us from seeking the truth."