Thank you for taking the time to read and leaving a comment. I do think interpretation is important here and it does depend on the lens through which you are looking at this. My aim was not only to explore one of the most important philosophical events in history, but also to highlight the importance of ridicule and scrutiny, especially in a time where such notions were not rife throughout society. We now know the importance of an unceasing desire to question - the enlightenment movement and scientific method are both predicated on this notion. Absolutely, however, political polarisation and other agendas can act as an impediment to the truth leading to more often than not, the totality of the conversation being taken up by the extreme fringes.

How we can best move past heuristics and biases in pursuit of the truth is a question I wish I had the answer for.

You are absolutely right with regards to questioning the nobility of standing up for what you believe to the extent where you are willing to die for it. I actually wanted to include a paragraph on this at the end referencing Bertrand Russel when he states: “I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.” - Ultimately you are correct, some are admired and some hated and the attitudes we hold are very much contingent on how we judge the rationality of their ideas.