more from Charles Sanders Peirce

Single Idea 19222

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 4. Explanation Doubts / b. Rejecting explanation]

Full Idea

Men many times fancy that they act from reason, when the reasons they attribute to themselves are nothing but excuses which unconscious instinct invents to satisfy the teasing 'whys' of the ego.

Gist of Idea

Men often answer inner 'whys' by treating unconscious instincts as if they were reasons

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (Reasoning and the Logic of Things [1898], I)

Book Reference

Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Reasoning and the Logic of Things', ed/tr. Ketner,K.L. [Harvard 1992], p.111


A Reaction

A strikely modern thought, supported by a lot of modern neuro-science and psychology. It is crucial to realise that we don't have to accept the best explanation we can think of.