Chesterton's Fence

Chesterton's Fenceis athe principle saying that youreforms should not get ridbe made until the reasoning behind the existing state of institutions and norms until you understand why they existedaffairs is understood.

Related: Epistemic Modesty

From Chesterton’s 1929 book, The Thing, in the first place.

It was first described by early 20th century writer G. K. Chestertonchapter entitled The Drift from Domesticity [1]:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, '“I don'’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.'” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: '“If you don'’t see the use of it, I certainly won'’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.

See also

• Wikipedia: Chesterton'

  Related: Epistemic Modestys Fence

Related: Epistemic Modesty

Chesterton'Chesterton's fence Fence is thea principle saying that reformsyou should not be madeget rid of institutions and norms until the reasoning behind the existing state of affairs is understood. The quotation is from Chesterton’s 1929 book The Thing,you understand why they existed in the chapter entitled "The Drift from Domesticity"first place.

It was first described by early 20th century writer G. K. Chesterton:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’'I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away.”' To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If'If you don’don't see the use of it, I certainly won’won't let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it. 1)

1) "Taking a Fence Down". American Chesterton Society. Retrieved 21 June 2014.

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See also Wikipedia: Chesterton's Fence

> In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it. 1)

> 1) "Taking a Fence Down". American Chesterton Society. Retrieved 21 June 2014.

See also [Wikipedia:Wikipedia: Chesterton's Fence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton's_fence)Fence