To turn the gaze of reason upon itself, to investigate its origins and its proper use, is, far from being a form of irrationalism, a necessary part of the rational life.
Those who make the mistake of assuming that the origin of reason must be found in something rational (St. Thomas, for example) are led to another mistake, belief in a rational Creator. Nature is capricious and far from rational, and yet man and reason have arisen out of her. The origin of reason can only be properly investigated through the use of reason, without appeals to sentiment.
To one who says that it is always good to be rational, we must say, “What about sleep?” Surely he is exaggerating. Perhaps not only sleep but other ways of resting the rational faculty will be beneficial to its overall functioning. This question can only be settled by a rational investigation.
No comments:
Post a Comment