Overly diligent concern for details, undue devotion to formal
precision and zeal for literalism were for [Bruno] all manifestations of
dogmatism, bigotry and violence. In modem terms, we would call the
kind of pedantry criticized by Bruno a technocratic handling of
knowledge, which leads to fetishism for words, calcification of rules
and religious fanaticism. Most of all, Bruno interpreted pedantry as a
response to fear. Rules make us feel safe in that we are led to
believe that they will make the work for us.