Dear Fellow Travelers,
Thank you for reading and supporting this newsletter! As a reminder, the primary focus of the “Know Thyself” series is exploring the art and science of self-awareness. As you go through these meditations (or essays), consider letting the question, “What does it mean to know oneself?” linger in your mind.
If you missed any of the previous volumes, check out The Philosophy of Desire (Vol. 1), The Self, Shadow, and Sage (Vol. 2), and The Wisdom of Wonder (Vol. 3). Though each essay can stand independently, it's likely more effective to view these ideas as interconnected.
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Lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions throughout this series, please don't hesitate to share them in the comments.
Be wise and be well.
👁️ Know Thyself
The “Know Thyself” series explores philosophy, theology, and psychology for insights on the art (and science) of self-awareness. Expect to learn perennial ideas and psychological concepts on human nature, along with philosophical lessons on the art of living.
The Art of Rationality
Being irrational (at least at times) is part of being human. But why? Why do we believe absurd things? Why do societies, armed with data and analysis, repeat the same destructive mistakes?
Rationality offers more than just an answer; it stands as a discipline, a guide, and a virtue. In a time overwhelmed by misinformation, division, and rigid ideologies, rationality is not just a practice but a vital tool for the art of living. Central to this is a profound pursuit: self-awareness.
Rationality involves awareness not only of the external world but also of the mind that perceives and interprets it.
This essay explores the art of rationality through three ideas: (1) rationality as the pursuit of truth, (2) rationality as an ethical practice, and (3) rationality as a discipline. Each idea demonstrates that rationality is not just a practice but a way of being more aware of reality, others, and oneself.
1. Rationality as the Pursuit of Truth
Being rational means valuing what is true, not just in the world around us, but within ourselves as well. Rationality begins when we learn to test our beliefs, question our assumptions, and recognize how emotions, habits, and fears shape our thinking. It’s not about rejecting experience but about reorienting it—a way of seeing that begins with curiosity and hopefully leads to greater clarity.
Steven Pinker, in Rationality, defines rationality as “the ability to use knowledge to attain goals.” He continues: “The point of rationality is not to win arguments but to see the world as it is and to make better decisions.”
But to see the world clearly, we must first learn to see ourselves.
What beliefs do we inherit without reflection?
What narratives do we protect to feel safe or superior?
Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, taught that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. For Socrates, the goal of inquiry was not to possess knowledge but to know the knower. Rationality, then, becomes an act of interior illumination.
Confucian philosophy also highlights this inner clarity. In the Analects, Confucius stresses self-examination as the foundation of moral life:
When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should examine ourselves.
Rationality requires self-reflection.
Modern research reveals how unconscious biases, including confirmation bias, affective reasoning, and others, influence our judgments.
Pinker adds,
We must train our reasoning faculties to resist our irrational impulses, which are often ancient mental habits.
Rational thinking is not automatic—it must be cultivated. The art of rationality involves learning to hold our thoughts and opinions lightly. To consistently ask questions like “Is this true?” or “How might I be wrong?”
The pursuit of truth is not merely theoretical—it is an ethical and psychological commitment to openness and self-correction.
2. Rationality as an Ethical Practice
If the pursuit of truth through reason starts internally, ethics is where that self-awareness connects with the world. Rationality is not cold calculation; it is thoughtful consideration.
It influences how we communicate, listen, and interact. To reason well is to honor the dignity of others—and ourselves.
Eugenia Cheng explains in The Art of Logic,
Logic is not about being right. It’s about listening and thinking clearly, together.
This kind of thinking requires more than just intellectual accuracy; it calls for emotional honesty. It asks:
“What am I protecting?”
“What am I avoiding?”
Rational dialogue needs self-awareness, because without it, we're not truly engaging—we're just defending our previously held positions and ideas.
Rationality embodies the essence of the Socratic method: not to trap, but to reveal. Cheng elaborates: If we value people, we must value the truth. And if we value the truth, we must focus on how we collectively reach it.
