Reason
- Ken Hurley
Think freely. Practice patience. Smile often. Forgive and seek forgiveness. … Feel deeply. Tell loved ones how you feel. … Be soft sometimes. Cry when you need to. Observe miracles. - Charlie White, a 109 year old man
I'm trying to think, but nothing happens. - Curly, a Stooge
Wondering what does it really matter whether or not our will is free, pre-determined, or some hybrid version, if the results of our thoughts and actions end in a similar reality-based outcome? Seems reasonable. One man's Reason is another woman's Crazy, even if it's a Willie Nelson song sung by Patsy Cline.
It is especially challenging to determine what should be considered reasonable. We don't all agree on what is reasonable. That's one reason twelve jurors are summoned to determine if what happened should be considered reasonable. Beyond a reasonable doubt is a standard of proof required to validate a criminal conviction. Reasonable suspicion is used to determine the legality of a police officer's decision to perform a search.
Many skeptics and other humanists believe they have a heightened sense of reason. That their baloney buzzer blasts if the evidence they are expecting to see does not reconcile with what was actually shown. The State of Missouri calls itself the "Show Me" state, as if they are the keepers of what might be considered reasonable after they've had a peek at whatever was shown to them.
Reason is one of humanity's greatest advantages. It is the capacity for logical, critical, and analytical thinking that sets humans apart from other creatures. Without reason, we would remain unphased by the consequences of our actions and lose our ability to effectively solve problems. Without reason, our individuality might be lost to an army of mind-numbed cyborgs.
Reason enables us to question and understand the forces that shape our environment and our lives. It allows us to objectively sift through the clamor of opinions and ideas that we are bombarded with daily, in an effort to separate truth from baloney. Reason is what enables us to evaluate claims and engage in impassioned if not rigorous debates with others, cultivating open-mindedness and intellectual growth.
Reason has played a vital role in the development of science and knowledge. For centuries, humans have used reason to hypothesize, test, experiment, and verify theories about our world and beyond. Reason has helped dispel many myths and superstitions that once dominated human existence, thereby improving our living standards and quality of life.
Reason is the foundation of science, which can be defined as the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of our natural and social world using a systematic methodology based on cogitating evidence. Scientific methodology includes the following: 1) Define a coherent question suitable for further examination 2) Obtain data for research and observation 3) Make hypotheses based on research and observations 4) Analyze and test the hypotheses 5) Offer reasonable conclusions.
Remember Thales of Miletus? Is it reasonable to think you wondered, "Who?" Thales is credited with demonstrating that explanations of the world can be redirected from mythology toward natural philosophy. Thales suggested light does not emanate from the Moon, but is reflected from the Sun. Many think the aphorism "Know Thyself" should be attributed to Thales. Thales recognized that water is necessary for all life, but also speculated that Earth is a large mound of dirt that floats in water. He thought that seemed reasonable.
Galileo Galilei is known as the Father of Modern Science, who had the analytical abilities to link scientific theories with experiments drawing reasonable conclusions. Mathematics is considered the Mother of Science. The Uncle and Auntie of Science may be found in the dark back row of a discount cineplex enjoying Midnight in Paris.
Reason has also facilitated human progress in social, civic, and political spheres. It is through reasoned thought that societies have been able to create and adopt legal and political frameworks to govern human affairs. Democratic societies have been built on the foundational premise of reasoned debate and a fair exchange of ideas as the preferred way to elicit and adjudicate public opinions.
Reason has been a central feature of personal growth. It is an individual's capacity for reflection and thought that enables us to question our own beliefs, understandings, and values, and adjust them when necessary. Reason helps people identify their biases and prejudices, to accept and integrate new experiences, to recognize our own limitations, and to build self-esteem.
Reason is a critical tool in human life, but as my friend, Dr. David Schwam-Baird says, reason is not our only tool. Sometimes we need a corkscrew. Sometimes we need to let our Ode to Joy lead us straight into a mess-o-glorious-love.
Reason allows us to think, learn, and grow as individuals and communities, while enabling us to make informed decisions. To neglect reason is to live awkwardly, with a diminished capacity for human progress, comprehension, compassion, and thriving survival.
If it is reasonable to not believe everything you think, then is it also reasonable to wonder if humanity's survival or demise has become directly linked to Artificial Intelligence? Is it reasonable to think the word "Artificial" in Artificial Intelligence is a term created by human ego, believing human intelligence is superior to Watson, Bard, ChatGPT, and others? Is it reasonable to heed the dire existential warnings of experts who helped create Artificial Intelligence? Is it reasonable to think that one day soon the self-driving EVs, led by the Musk Tesla, will employ AI capable of making existential decisions on behalf of its passengers that would make Heidegger tremble? What if one’s refrigerator had empirical observational abilities capable of snarky remarks based on its owner's food selections? Suppose the Roomba were uploaded with self-aware AI? Is it reasonable to think the little rug muncher is capable of deciding whether Fido or Pussywillow's essence of existence should be swept away into nothingness for good?
If the defense pleads “not guilty by reason of insanity” and loses, they will appeal. They plead “not guilty by reason of insanity” on appeal. Is it reasonable to expect a different result?
Could I have carved in granite this version of "Reason" with a beveled stone chisel? Yes. Is it reasonable to think or believe I did? No.
I am reminded of a seasoned reporter who interviewed a 110 year old lady to learn her secret of healthy longevity. The reporter asked her, "What's your secret to living so long and looking so young?" She softly replied, "It's simple sir, I never argue with idiots." The reporter exclaimed, "Ha! That can't be the reason!" The beautiful supercentenarian said, "Okay, you're right, that's not the reason."
Seem reasonable? Send comments, questions, concerns, and well-wishes to me anytime you think it's reasonable.
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