Post #3 The Arational Mind Block #2

Block  #2      A mind is the arational tool through which Man confronts the
                       real world and attempts to place it in a rational system.  To
                       accomplish this, Man must be able to recognize whether he is
                       thinking rationally, irrationally, or arationally, and to direct his
                       behavior accordingly.

A baby comes into the world armed only with the basic nature of life and its peculiarly human capabilities to implement that nature.  If its nature were not as it is, its human capabilities would not have helped it to survive.

The peculiar capability that most distinguishes Man from all other forms of known life is the mind.  His intelligence is what has enabled Man to survive and conquer the environment around him...and pass the sum of his knowledge down from generation to generation.

Whether or not one believes in "tabula rasa", when a baby first begins to use his mind, his "thinking" is completely arational.  To the baby, anything he imagines or wishes is not only possible, it is a fact.  He has not yet learned to distinguish between his wishes and reality.  The point being that Man's mind is by nature arational, with the capability to differentiate between rational and irrational concepts.

Rationality and irrationality can be objectively proven in reality.  While a child may think a fire will not burn his hand, reality will inject itself into his thinking if he happens to stick his finger in the fire.

Arational subjects are those that cannot be objectively proved (or disproved) by reality as we know it.  By their nature, questions such as "is there a God?" or "is there life after death?", or "what is the purpose of life?" must be answered on faith, either pro or con, rather than on objective proof.

To survive in the world of reality, Man's behavior must be rational, but his mind is not limited by his behavior.  His mind is a creative tool, free to consider alternative realities and arational subjects.

In summary, a mind is the arational vehicle through which a man confronts the real world and attempts to place it in a rational system, as well as a vehicle to confront arational questions that must be accepted on faith.

To function properly, Man must be able to recognize whether he is thinking rationally, irrationally, or arationally, and to direct his behavior accordingly.