Summary
Title: The Splendid Feast of Reason
Author: Seymour Jonathan Singer
Publisher: University of California Press
ISBN: 0520239113
Pro:
• Clear explanation of the importance of a rational philosophy
• Argues for realistic, attainable goals
Con:
• Spends perhaps a bit too much time on biology
Description:
• Exploration of reason and rationality in an irrational world
• Examines basic characteristics of a rational perspective on life
• Argues that modern science is a key ingredient to a rational worldview
Book Review
Who are the rationalists, and how do they distinguish themselves from irrationality? Rationalists tend to display a much higher proportion of rationality over irrationality in their lives; yet rationality is not the same as intelligence, because an intelligent person can be persistently irrational.
Singer offers a set of seven characteristics. They include: conscious electing to use reason as the basis for making decisions; prizing knowledge, even over comfort; seeking truth wherever it may be, even if it means discomfort; refusal to compartmentalize rationality and using it for some topics rather than others; rejecting traditional religious dogmas when they conflict with modern science, for example when it comes to evolution; fighting hypocrisy whenever it occurs; and finally, having an open mind for whatever new ideas come along.
Singer does not argue that these are absolute restrictions which must be valid in all times and situations — they are guidelines, and he acknowledges that others might reject some and add others. The problem, however, is that whatever set of criteria a person uses, it will end up applying to only a small fraction of society. Most people ultimately are not rationalists.
That isn’t good, but Singer argues that there is no way around this: we will never make most people in society rationalists. Indeed, we won’t even be able to get enough people to adopt rationalistic principles such that society itself can be fundamentally transformed and made less irrational.
Does that mean that Singer is a pessimist? Perhaps, to a certain degree, but he does offer more optimistic — or at least realistic — ideas for addressing society’s problems. If rationalists cannot end irrationality, they can at least work within the system of irrationality to mitigate its harm and make improvements wherever possible.
One excellent example of this, discussed at great length by Singer, is Modern Science. Although just a few hundred years old, it has already made tremendous transformations of society at every level. People may resist certain portions or implications of science, but they haven’t been able to stop its progress.
Modern Science may be the greatest fruit of the efforts of organized rationality. It provides significant insight into the nature of our universe and even human beings, with more being learned every day. And this is real, objective knowledge, not the subjective knowledge which is derived from ourselves and which may have application in the arts. It tells us about how life and death work, where we come from, and how we affect the world around us.
