Rational vs Non-Rational Thought: The Chocolate and Peanut Butter of the Mind

The Emergence of Rational Thought

There’s a tendency to herald rational thought as the zenith of human achievement. Ever since ancient philosophers started pondering the workings of the universe, rational thought has been held in high regard. The idea is simple yet powerful: if you proceed logically, considering causes and effects meticulously, you can navigate the complex maze of life more effectively. Rational thinking enables us to solve problems, make calculated decisions, and predict outcomes with a certain level of accuracy.

The Power of Narrative: Non-Rational Thought

On the other side of the cognitive spectrum, we have what is often termed non-rational thought. This doesn’t imply irrationality, which is essentially the rejection of rational frameworks. Instead, non-rational thought sidesteps the very concept of rationality. It’s the realm of myths, stories, and emotional understanding, things that can’t necessarily be quantified or put into a neat, logical box. For a long time, this type of thought was encapsulated in narratives and mythologies that guided human behavior and explained the inexplicable.

The Limitations and Strengths of Each Approach

Rational thought has its boundaries; it’s confined to a specific scope where rules apply and outcomes can be predicted. This makes it ineffectual in addressing issues that lack a rational basis, where emotions, traditions, or instinctual behaviors hold sway. Non-rational thought fills this gap. It offers wisdom through storytelling, provides moral lessons through myths, and taps into emotional and social dimensions that pure rationality often ignores.

The Problem with Labels

However, when we term something as non-rational, we unwittingly allow rationality to dominate the discourse. In essence, we’re still measuring the value of non-rational thought against a rational yardstick, which isn’t entirely fair or useful. This skewed assessment can result in underestimating the power and significance of non-rational modes of thought.

A Balanced Perspective

The point here isn’t to pit one against the other, nor to elevate non-rational thought as an advocacy for believing in nonsense. It’s an acknowledgement that both forms of thought have their place and their power. In fact, most human thought likely falls within the realm of the non-rational, encompassing everything from intuition to faith to emotional intelligence.

The Road Ahead

Rationalists may find it difficult, and perhaps even unsettling, to acknowledge the power of non-rational thought. But ignoring it would be, ironically, an irrational choice. Both types of thinking offer unique insights into the complexities of the human experience, and both deserve a seat at the table when we consider how best to navigate our lives. Consider the spectrum of human understanding and the role that non-rational thought plays in it. You might just find that a balanced approach offers a more nuanced and complete picture of the world we inhabit.

ROBOBONOBO.CO