WHY THE EXTREME FORMS OF CONSTRUCTIVIST RATIONALISM REGULARLY LEAD TO A REVOLT AGAINST REASON
Extreme versions of constructivist rationalism often lead to a rejection of reason. This happens when people overestimate what reason can do, leading to disappointment and a shift towards individual will instead of relying on abstract reasoning. Supporters of this approach believe that reason alone can tell us what actions are right, but they ignore that it actually needs emotions and instincts to make choices. When they try to apply these ideas in real life, they find that not everyone can agree on common goals based solely on reason.
The pushback against abstract thinking comes from not understanding how reason works. While abstract thought helps us understand concepts better, it doesn’t give us full control over every situation. This is an important idea in liberalism, which suggests that society should develop naturally under general rules rather than through strict control.
People who support constructivist rationalism often reject the need for abstract reasoning and focus more on specific, concrete situations. This limits how much reason can effectively guide society. By favoring the concrete over the abstract, they end up aligning with irrationalism, where the focus on non-rational goals undermines the role of reason in shaping our actions and society.
Extreme versions of constructivist rationalism often lead to a rejection of reason. This happens when people overestimate what reason can do, leading to disappointment and a shift towards individual will instead of relying on abstract reasoning. Supporters of this approach believe that reason alone can tell us what actions are right, but they ignore that it actually needs emotions and instincts to make choices. When they try to apply these ideas in real life, they find that not everyone can agree on common goals based solely on reason.
The pushback against abstract thinking comes from not understanding how reason works. While abstract thought helps us understand concepts better, it doesn’t give us full control over every situation. This is an important idea in liberalism, which suggests that society should develop naturally under general rules rather than through strict control.
People who support constructivist rationalism often reject the need for abstract reasoning and focus more on specific, concrete situations. This limits how much reason can effectively guide society. By favoring the concrete over the abstract, they end up aligning with irrationalism, where the focus on non-rational goals undermines the role of reason in shaping our actions and society.