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Single Idea 22643

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / b. Human rationality]

Full Idea

I think there are very good grounds for upholding the view that the feeling of rationality is constituted merely by the absence of any feelings of irrationality.

Gist of Idea

It seems that we feel rational when we detect no irrationality

Source

William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.20)

A Reaction

A very interesting proposal. Nothing is more basic to logic (well, plausible versions of logic) than the principle of non-contradiction - perhaps because it is the foundation of our natural intellectual equipment.

Book Reference

James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.20

Related Idea

Idea 22642 Man has an intense natural interest in the consistency of his own thinking [James]