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Prerequisites to Reason
This resources describes some of the basic human skills,
perspectives, and situational dynamics that are
necessary in order to expect someone to be reasoning
clearly, instead of only rationalizing, irrationally
persuading, maintaining a position uncritically, or
intimidating.
Many people are able to reason clearly under adverse
conditions and with poor support or preparation, so we
should never discount peoples ideas out of hand. But
when we have the opportunity, we should help provide
people with these prerequisites.
This resources describes some of the basic human skills,
perspectives, and situational dynamics that are
necessary in order to expect someone to be reasoning
clearly, instead of only rationalizing, irrationally
persuading, maintaining a position uncritically, or
intimidating.
Many people are able to reason clearly under adverse
conditions and with poor support or preparation, so we
should never discount peoples ideas out of hand. But
when we have the opportunity, we should help provide
people with these prerequisites.
Calm
Having the mental space to consider things instead of
being driven by emotions or a sense of urgency into
spontaneous emotional and habitual reaction to a
situation or proposition is a prerequisite to reason.
Without a moment to consider, we have not the moment
required to reason.
Respect
Having enough respect for a person with a differing view
to take their point of view seriously is the start to reason.
While every point of view may not be reasonable, we
must start by analyzing the statements of those points of
view to make a fair determination. If they are irrational or
fallacious, we may be left with analyzing the person or
social forces that lead them to such irrationality, but a
reasonable person will not bypass the assertions in favor
of personal attack. People of vastly different points of
view and emotional content can all have keen insights.
Effort to Understand
Putting forth the effort to really try to understand a
person’s perspective and analyze their argument is a big
requirement for reasoning. Analyzing what we only
presupposed that others think is unreasonable.
Resigning ourselves to the assumption that certain
problems are irreconcilable is the only thing that ensures
that they will be.
Quest for Coherence
Making an effort to resolve inconsistencies in our own
thinking, in other’s thinking, and between points of view is
necessary for reason. Some people say that “being
reasonable” means that everyone’s opinion should be
OK no matter how unreasonable it is, but reasonable
people have the courage to point out when things are
incoherent or irrational, and to be diligent in their efforts
toward establishing coherence.
Skepticism
Accepting what everyone says as absolute truth
automatically leads to absurdities and contradictions. We
must proceed with an acknowledgement of partial
understanding and potential misconception regarding a
topic in question and a need to test and confirm what we
hear or see in order to be able to ascribe any value to
that data as knowledge. Reasonable people
acknowledge the tentative way in which we validate
knowledge, and the assumption that things will be looked
at again in the future with new information or
understanding. We must leave room for a bit of doubt in
our greatest surety. Inquiring into the basis for
assertions, the validity of evidence, and the accuracy of
assertions is the beginning of reason. Yet treating
everything as doubtable except our own opinions is also
a barrier to rational thinking. To be fair, all ideas and
evidence must be treated as having an inherent need for
verification to some degree. We develop opinions with
an understanding that on each premise we should always
be ready to receive criticism that could help us grow in
understanding. Without this premise, we are
unreasonably asserting one presumption or another.
Communication
Emphasizing listening and providing relevant and
informed responses is a big part of communicating in a
reasonable way. Also, it is important to make an effort to
be clear in terms of as broad an audience as possible
when we express our own assertions and analysis.
Shielding ourselves from scrutiny by sequestering
ourselves into obscure vocabulary and reference limits
our ability to be rational. Disdaining to consider a
persons criticism because of a critic’s credentials or
background is another way of limiting our own ability to
be rational.
Humility
Realizing that our own assumptions, even those we might
think to be absolute, are subject to critical scrutiny and
possibly revision is an important prerequisite to being
reasonable. If we defend a few “absolutes,” then it is on
these points that we are most unreasonable and
irrational.
Acknowledging That We All Learn
Understanding that our positions can change, and
change for the better, is the basic motivation for
reasoning. If all we are doing is trying to convince
others, then we are only practicing irrational persuasion
and at that point we have become unreasonable.
Balancing Priorities
When dealing with human desires, being able to balance
those rationally and consider critically the outcomes of
fulfilling those desires is a big part of being reasonable.
It does not mean acknowledging all desires or
predispositions as equally valid, but it means.
Scope of Objectivity
Objectivity is not some absolute thing, but a body of
knowledge based on the reasonable dialogue of a
certain group of people. As different groups come
together, they may broaden their objectivity by resolving
differences between groups using reason. Without
reason, they leave differences as irreconcilable and the
source of animosity, misunderstanding and prejudice.
Compatible Method
People who are reasoning together must generally
develop or start with some common methods that can be
mutually assumed. Without a few toe holds of common
techniques of analysis, then it is very hard to achieve
significant further progress. Such common assumptions
cannot be demanded, but must be freely accepted in
order to solicit participation. As these initial points build,
and inconsistencies arise in an opinion, it is possible to
work through those to the common end of increased
understanding, more informed decision-making, and
revision towards mutual agreement.
Effort to be Informed
Many arguments occur today that would have been
appropriate in 13th century Europe, but taken in the light
of scientific knowledge and the global intercultural forum
of reasoned debate are absurdly insular, myth-biased,
and anti-reasoning. Yet many academics drive their
arguments into a feigned ignorance of the modern world
in an attempt to keep old arguments alive. Rational
people embrace the expansion of human understanding
and hold themselves accountable to the resolution of
issues on the broadest scales of awareness.
Being Accountable - Realizing that when our ideas or
actions are criticized, we have a responsibility, not just to
defend them stubbornly, but to really analyze the merits
of what we think or do and live up to the results we
discover.
Participant is Not Under Threat – People have a hard
time coming to reason when doing something threatens
their ability to survive or maintain self-esteem, or
maintain social relationships. One of the first things that
can help us become more reasonable is to realizing when
these threats are holding us back from honest dialogue
and look for ways of coming to be reasonable that can
reconcile our personal human needs.
Having the mental space to consider things instead of
being driven by emotions or a sense of urgency into
spontaneous emotional and habitual reaction to a
situation or proposition is a prerequisite to reason.
Without a moment to consider, we have not the moment
required to reason.
Respect
Having enough respect for a person with a differing view
to take their point of view seriously is the start to reason.
While every point of view may not be reasonable, we
must start by analyzing the statements of those points of
view to make a fair determination. If they are irrational or
fallacious, we may be left with analyzing the person or
social forces that lead them to such irrationality, but a
reasonable person will not bypass the assertions in favor
of personal attack. People of vastly different points of
view and emotional content can all have keen insights.
Effort to Understand
Putting forth the effort to really try to understand a
person’s perspective and analyze their argument is a big
requirement for reasoning. Analyzing what we only
presupposed that others think is unreasonable.
Resigning ourselves to the assumption that certain
problems are irreconcilable is the only thing that ensures
that they will be.
Quest for Coherence
Making an effort to resolve inconsistencies in our own
thinking, in other’s thinking, and between points of view is
necessary for reason. Some people say that “being
reasonable” means that everyone’s opinion should be
OK no matter how unreasonable it is, but reasonable
people have the courage to point out when things are
incoherent or irrational, and to be diligent in their efforts
toward establishing coherence.
Skepticism
Accepting what everyone says as absolute truth
automatically leads to absurdities and contradictions. We
must proceed with an acknowledgement of partial
understanding and potential misconception regarding a
topic in question and a need to test and confirm what we
hear or see in order to be able to ascribe any value to
that data as knowledge. Reasonable people
acknowledge the tentative way in which we validate
knowledge, and the assumption that things will be looked
at again in the future with new information or
understanding. We must leave room for a bit of doubt in
our greatest surety. Inquiring into the basis for
assertions, the validity of evidence, and the accuracy of
assertions is the beginning of reason. Yet treating
everything as doubtable except our own opinions is also
a barrier to rational thinking. To be fair, all ideas and
evidence must be treated as having an inherent need for
verification to some degree. We develop opinions with
an understanding that on each premise we should always
be ready to receive criticism that could help us grow in
understanding. Without this premise, we are
unreasonably asserting one presumption or another.
Communication
Emphasizing listening and providing relevant and
informed responses is a big part of communicating in a
reasonable way. Also, it is important to make an effort to
be clear in terms of as broad an audience as possible
when we express our own assertions and analysis.
Shielding ourselves from scrutiny by sequestering
ourselves into obscure vocabulary and reference limits
our ability to be rational. Disdaining to consider a
persons criticism because of a critic’s credentials or
background is another way of limiting our own ability to
be rational.
Humility
Realizing that our own assumptions, even those we might
think to be absolute, are subject to critical scrutiny and
possibly revision is an important prerequisite to being
reasonable. If we defend a few “absolutes,” then it is on
these points that we are most unreasonable and
irrational.
Acknowledging That We All Learn
Understanding that our positions can change, and
change for the better, is the basic motivation for
reasoning. If all we are doing is trying to convince
others, then we are only practicing irrational persuasion
and at that point we have become unreasonable.
Balancing Priorities
When dealing with human desires, being able to balance
those rationally and consider critically the outcomes of
fulfilling those desires is a big part of being reasonable.
It does not mean acknowledging all desires or
predispositions as equally valid, but it means.
Scope of Objectivity
Objectivity is not some absolute thing, but a body of
knowledge based on the reasonable dialogue of a
certain group of people. As different groups come
together, they may broaden their objectivity by resolving
differences between groups using reason. Without
reason, they leave differences as irreconcilable and the
source of animosity, misunderstanding and prejudice.
Compatible Method
People who are reasoning together must generally
develop or start with some common methods that can be
mutually assumed. Without a few toe holds of common
techniques of analysis, then it is very hard to achieve
significant further progress. Such common assumptions
cannot be demanded, but must be freely accepted in
order to solicit participation. As these initial points build,
and inconsistencies arise in an opinion, it is possible to
work through those to the common end of increased
understanding, more informed decision-making, and
revision towards mutual agreement.
Effort to be Informed
Many arguments occur today that would have been
appropriate in 13th century Europe, but taken in the light
of scientific knowledge and the global intercultural forum
of reasoned debate are absurdly insular, myth-biased,
and anti-reasoning. Yet many academics drive their
arguments into a feigned ignorance of the modern world
in an attempt to keep old arguments alive. Rational
people embrace the expansion of human understanding
and hold themselves accountable to the resolution of
issues on the broadest scales of awareness.
Being Accountable - Realizing that when our ideas or
actions are criticized, we have a responsibility, not just to
defend them stubbornly, but to really analyze the merits
of what we think or do and live up to the results we
discover.
Participant is Not Under Threat – People have a hard
time coming to reason when doing something threatens
their ability to survive or maintain self-esteem, or
maintain social relationships. One of the first things that
can help us become more reasonable is to realizing when
these threats are holding us back from honest dialogue
and look for ways of coming to be reasonable that can
reconcile our personal human needs.
To submit resources to our editors, please use the contact
MOR button above or click here.
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