Chesterton’s Fence refers to a decision principle: “Before removing an existing rule, structure, or practice, you must first understand why it was put there.” Or put another way, to safely operate outside the box, it helps to know WHY the box was created:
1) Failure to see a purpose does not imply absence of purpose, ignorance not being evidence.
2) Removing a constraint may reintroduce a solved problem. While the original reason may no longer exist, the fence builder is rarely stupid (but you might be if you demolish it without proper investigation).
While Chesterton’s Fence may protect against simplistic efficiency thinking or impulsiveness, it can also be used to entrench inefficiency or sustain bureaucratic inertia. As always, balance. Before removing reporting layers or compliance procedures ask: “What was this designed to prevent? Did/Does it work? Are the costs worth the benefits?”
It is all too easy to fall into ‘Chicken Little’ mode, where costly rules and regulations, impediments to progress and prosperity, provide at best theoretical benefit yet persist due to a lack of rigorous, scientific scrutiny.
Closing Quotes:
“For every complex problem, there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” – H.L. Mencken, 1880-1956
“Failing to consider second- and third-order consequences is the cause of a lot of painfully bad decisions…” – Ray Dalio, Principles
“The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.” – Albert Camus, 1913-1960
“Fences don’t grow from the ground. People don’t build them in their sleep or in a fit of madness. They build them for a reason. If you view a rule or a structure as ‘pointless’, it may mean you are missing information, not that the original builder was a fool.” – Gemini
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier
Note: Every effort has been made to properly source any 3rd person material. I am, however, a voracious reader. If anyone finds any unattributed material, pls let me know asap and I will be delighted to give credit where credit is due.
“All intelligent thoughts have already been thought; what is necessary is only to try to think them again.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832
