1olddog

I have noticed and experienced this phenomena many times throughout my life, but can’t put a name to it. When I was young, I sometimes felt repelled by what I perceived as an extremely cold and arrogant response, but looking back on it after learning to think more rationally, I can now see the rational and logic of it. Conversely, I have been accused of being cold-hearted on occasion, when I though that I was just being perfectly rational. Is this real, or just “Pseudo-intellectual, elitist twaddle�??

Please note: I am never sure if I am expressing myself clumsily or not, because English is only my second language (no schooling in English whatsoever), thus I need to ask for tolerance in that respect when you read my posts.

Victoria Silverwolf

First of all, allow me to assure you that your English is just fine -- better than most native speakers.

It's easy to stereotype rational thinking as "cold" or "heartless" -- the Mister Spock syndrome. This is just as bad as stereotyping anybody who displays any emotion as "hysterical." The truth, of course, is that there needs to be a balance between the two. Rational thinking allows us to make the best possible use of our emotions. Creating great art requires rational thought to guide ones' emotions. Great scientific breakthroughs are made by rational thinkers who are passionate about understanding the universe.

Verloc

Rationality always seems cold to those who prefer to be ruled by their emotions, because a certain amount of detachment is required to practise it, and this usually breaks any kind of rapport that you may have had.

1olddog

With "rapport", are you referring to emotional links?

Verloc

Yes, like when people's emotions feed off each other. Rationality usually breaks that connection.

Peter Kirby

It's a philosophical cliché to take this approach, but nevertheless, answering this question would be much easier with a clear and shared understanding of what 'rationality' and 'irrationality' are. (But I guess that's part of the point of the question in the OP already.)

kind thoughts,
Peter Kirby

FarmMama

I agree with Victoria (especially about your english which is impressive).

Balance is the key and for me it isn't always easy and therefore appears to be a life-long challenge.

Oxymoron

In a nutshell:

Thoughts are for thinking.
Emotions are for feeling.

In actuality they both run simultaneously on the target hardware, and become entwined, irrespective of there being any causal link between them. So deep is this linkage, that our language is full of indicators such as "I feel that..." is synonymous with "I believe that...". And therein lies the problem.

1olddog

Very nicely put. Thank you. This has also been my idea for a long time, but it's virtually impossible to discuss this with most people.

Is it save to assume that rational thinking is used so little and not promoted in schools because it interferes with political and religious dogma, because their leaders perceive it to be a thread?

StaticAge

I see no problem with rational and irrational intertwining, and I sometimes think it is the attempt to separate the two that leads to problems, as if the human experience itself is something to be despised and we must throw away the half of it that is more subjective to arrive at "truth." It may be more logically pure to say that 1+1+1=3, but there is more meaning to say "my wife and child and I are a family." On the other hand, logic is a vital part of the human experience as well, and shouldnt be shoved aside as if irrational thought is superior either, but I think a lot of bad choices are made, not because emotions are bad, but because of bad logic. Logic, in my opinion, only becomes arrogant when it refuses to acknowledge that it is less than the whole picture, not more.