"What if You're Wrong?"

Fictional heroes like Poul Anderson's David Falkayn and Dominic Flandry risk their lives but do not die - usually. If we are reading an eight-volume Dominic Flandry series, then we know that Flandry is not going to die except just possibly at the very end of the last volume. In fact, I did think that he was going to die near the end of A Stone in Heaven but there was a conventional rescue after all. In some sub-genres, it is a given that the hero always survives. ERB was not going to write about the death of Tarzan or John Carter. Arthur Conan Doyle and Ian Fleming did try, unsuccessfully, to dispose of their signature characters.

Having explained his military strategy, SM Stirling's and David Drake's Raj Whitehall is asked:

"'Sir - what if you're wrong?'"
-All That Fall, CHAPTER EIGHT, p. 437 -

- and replies:

"'This isn't a safe profession, you know. If I'm wrong, we all die. And now, Messers, I think we should attend to the men.'" (ibid.)

An excellent answer, especially that last sentence, suggesting immediate practical action.

But I have heard that question before. An Evangelical asked Richard Dawkins, "What if you're wrong?" He replied in part, "What if you're wrong about the Great Ju-Ju under the sea?" (See here.) An excellent answer. Here would be two more:

"You ask me what would be the consequences for me if your belief were true but it is your belief so you know the answer."

"My world-view is based on evidence and reason. I cannot change it by an act of will as Evangelicals seem to expect."

Have I gone off the point? Not really. In any situation, each of us can only make his best judgment, then act on it. Does anyone claim to be infallible? Well, yes, as a matter of fact...