severity protecting errors

[LoBagola]

A rational process is a moral process. You may make an error at any step of it, with nothing to protect you but your own severity, or you may try to cheat, to fake the evidence and evade the effort of the quest—but if devotion to truth is the hallmark of morality, then there is no greater, nobler, more heroic form of devotion than the act of a man who assumes the responsibility of thinking.

 

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/rationality.html

 

 

What is meant by "nothing to protect you but your own severity"? The idea that the severity of an error can protect you is confusing. A less severe error can be less damaging, but not protective.

 

 

[softwareNerd]

I have not looked up the context of the quote, but it is not severity in the sense of "degree of error", but severity in the sense of the strictness of the process of thinking.

Severe in the sense of being strict and harsh with yourself, keeping intensity of focus, refusing to accept something that seems half-right, refusing to accept something as true without full evidence, and so on.

Edited February 25, 2014 by softwareNerd

[dream_weaver]

I would submit context 1 & 4 and maybe even 7 from severity from Merriam-Webster

 

1 a :  strict in judgment, discipline, or government

 b :  of a strict or stern bearing or manner :  austere

2:  rigorous in restraint, punishment, or requirement :  stringent

3:  strongly critical or condemnatory <a severe critic>

4a :  maintaining a scrupulously exacting standard of behavior or self-discipline

 b :  establishing exacting standards of accuracy and integrity in intellectual processes <a severe logician>

5:  sober or restrained in decoration or manner :  plain <a severe dress>

6a :  causing discomfort or hardship :  harsh <severe winters>

 b :  very painful or harmful <a severe wound>

7:  requiring great effort :  arduous <a severe test>

8:  of a great degree <severe depression>

Edited February 25, 2014 by dream_weaver

[oso]

A rational process is a moral process. You may make an error at any step of it, with nothing to protect you but your own severity, or you may try to cheat, to fake the evidence and evade the effort of the quest—but if devotion to truth is the hallmark of morality, then there is no greater, nobler, more heroic form of devotion than the act of a man who assumes the responsibility of thinking.

 

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/rationality.html

 

 

What is meant by "nothing to protect you but your own severity"? The idea that the severity of an error can protect you is confusing. A less severe error can be less damaging, but not protective.

It's not the severity of the error being referred to, it is the severity of the person. I'm not sure, but I take that to mean severe, as in strict and intense, devotion to truth.