Q.)What does the following statement mean to you in the present context? – “Prejudices are what fools use for a reason”
Prejudices refer to prior judgements held by the person without holding a complete understanding of the situation.
The above quote tries to explain that such previously held judgements and beliefs are detrimental to correct reasoning. This says that fools use wrong basis for their arguments and are so convinced with their reasons that it becomes difficult to talk sense to them. E.g., the notion that blacks and Mexicans are the ones who are spreading crime in USA by the Trump administration in USA is a case in point. Such reasoning affects their judgement and fools take them as fact value.
This quotation holds great importance in present times as well. This is because there are situations of greater tensions and loss of debates around reasonable arguments. A need of the hour is to hold debates and inculcate the values of tolerance to remove prejudices.
In the case of increased violence in terms of how people dress, what they eat and how they lead their personal lives prejudices play a very detrimental role. E.g., to brand people as Bhakts, libtards etc and then asses every argument they present in that very context is also a reflection of the prejudices of the larger public towards others
It also pushes the society backwards into medieval times when reason and logic were yet to develop as the basis of human judgements. Galileo corrected such notions by his theory, Copernicus gave the heliocentric theory to correct the religious prejudices about our earth and solar system as well.
To conclude, prejudices are detrimental for a healthy society. It affects our own judgements and render us fools even after much education and training.
