188 Chesterton's Fence - A Lesson In Second Order Thinking

Chesterton's Fence is a principle that says change should not be made until the reasoning behind the current state of affairs is understood. The concept is based on a quote from G.K. Chesterton's 1929 book, The Thing, and is often used to caution reformers against making changes without fully understanding the reasons behind the status quo. The principle is not an admonishment of anyone who tries to make improvements; it is a reminder that previous generations were not bumbling fools, stumbling around, constructing fences wherever they fancied. People do not do things for no reason, and not understanding something does not mean it must be pointless.