Single Idea 11047

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / a. Rationality]

Full Idea

The 'holistic' (Hegelian) sense of rationality means the capacity for systematically seeking coherence (or 'reflective equilibrium') across a network or web of beliefs, desires, emotions, intentions and volitions. Traditionally 'the truth is the whole'.

Gist of Idea

Hegelian holistic rationality is the capacity to seek coherence

Source

Robert Hanna (Rationality and Logic [2006], Intro)

Book Reference

Hanna,Robert: 'Rationality and Logic' [MIT 2006], p.-6


A Reaction

On the whole this is my preferred view (which sounds Quinean as well as Hegelian), though I reject the notion that truth is a whole. I take coherence to be the hallmark of justification, though not of truth, and reason aims to justify.