Where does new knowledge come from?

"A characteristic of almost all human societies is the general belief, hallowed by institutions and uncritically accepted, that something must be:

> Convenient;
> Plausible;
> Believed;
> Allowed by precedent;
> Accepted as true;
> Capable of 'proof' within confines laid down by self-appointed authorities or their successors;
> Admitted by some established body of experts: otherwise it is not allowed to be 'true'.

The fact is, of course, as we can immediately see once we pause to analyse it: An idea, scheme, or almost anything else, really needs no other qualification than that it is true."[89]

To tackle the difficulties for reform outlined in this charter requires new ways of thinking about them. We must therefore keep in mind that innovative ideas almost always come from outsiders — people who are generally perceived as 'oddballs'. The reason for this is not hard to see. People who fit easily and comfortably into existing mores and institutions are less likely to be motivated to question the assumptions, ideas and procedures by which these institutions are run — not least because they would assume that to do so would risk their future career advancement or security.

There are countless examples in history of the most important new ideas and knowledge coming from people who were considered odd and who didn't fit in with the conventions of their time.[90] Socrates, for example, never held an official position but was a self appointed tutor to the brightest young men of Athens. His use of reason and logical argument to identify the basis of ethical behaviour so frightened the authorities that he was executed for corrupting the young. His pupil, Plato, went on to develop and transmit his ideas and they eventually became the inspiration behind Western civilisation.[91]

Isaac Newton is generally regarded as one of the greatest scientists who ever lived but he was very much an eccentric loner, as intensely interested in the occult as he was by mathematics and the laws of physics.

Albert Einstein developed his theories of relativity whilst working as a patent clerk in Zurich. He was in that job because he was regarded as too strange to be employed as a teacher.

Charles Darwin, the most influential biologist who ever lived, never held an academic post, was thought of as a slow student, and wrote up his theories of evolution whilst working from home.

From the world of engineering, literature, business and economics too, there are countless examples of 'outsiders' introducing new ways of doing things, often to initial ridicule. So we should not reject out of hand ideas emanating from people who do not enjoy high status conferred on them by membership of prestigious institutions. Amongst all the undeniable nonsense that emanates from 'oddballs' and outsiders are likely to be found the innovative ideas that will enable knowledge to advance and society to recover from its current malaise. It is also for this reason that the people who audit the effectiveness of institutions must come from outside institutions.

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