by Sanford Aranoff

Created on: February 23, 2011

A television host is interviewing a professor. In response to a question, he makes a statement, saying something like “It is clearly obvious that…” The professor then goes on to a lengthy comment. The host then replies to some remarks at the end of the professor’s comment, even if the original comment does not make sense. If the initial statement was wrong, then all the subsequent statements the professor made are irrelevant. Since society feels it is rude to interrupt people speaking, the host should go back to the initial statement to challenge the professor. The current practice permits irrational ideas to spread and become popular.

The fact that this situation is widespread with very few complaints suggests the sad situation that many Americans do not know how to think rationally. The Talmud, the source of Jewish tradition, states that people should reply to comments in order, replying to the first statement first. Americans need to understand this.

To illustrate the point, here is an example. The host asked a professor about the situation in Egypt. The professor began stating that it is clear that people basically desire freedom and democracy. Using this, he then began with his detailed analysis. When the professor finished, the host ignored the initial postulate about the desire for freedom, a statement that is clearly false. Members of the Islam religion do not desire freedom, but submission. Indeed, the word Islam means submission. Americans do not desire democracy, but have actively opposed it in setting up our system of government. America is not a democracy, but a constitutional republic, which is very different. Since the professor’s postulate is false, his conclusion is also false. The least the host could have done after the professor began speaking was to ask for clarification and verification of the initial statement, and asked to what extent scholars agreed with it.

Our current irrationality is due to John Dewey and progressive education. This idea is that the individual as the most important feature in understanding, instead of starting with clearly stated principles that can be empirically verified. Progressivism leads to the false idea that strong earnest wishful thinking can overcome cold logic. This is like saying that wishing can cure cancer.

See the new book, "Rational Thinking, Government Policies, Science, and Living". Rational thinking starts with clearly stated principles, continues with logical deductions, and then examines empirical evidence to possibly modify the principles.

Learn more about this author, Sanford Aranoff.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.