The charming history of reason

Ever think about …Thinking? Ever wondered how you think and analyze? Let me tell you. Some may argue that what separates us from animals is the ability to think, but recently many scientists have established that some higher animals al…

Ever think about …Thinking?

Ever wondered how you think and analyze?

Let me tell you.

Some may argue that what separates us from animals is the ability to think, but recently many scientists have established that some higher animals although demonstrate some forms of thinking and reason. so, what is the reason?

According to the British encyclopedia, The reason, in philosophy, is the faculty or process of drawing logical inferences.

In simpler words, it is the ability to understand and follow a specific set of evidence and clues to reach a conclusion.

The first one to study this phenomenon and write about was the famous Greek philosopher Socrates. he believed in a simple philosophy that we can understand all the mysteries of the universe based on a series of questions and by breaking the main question into multiple specific questions.

for example, if I want to learn about the sun, I would ask me some questions. what is the sun ?

what is it made of ?

why it only rises in the morning ?? etc. AAA

Seems a little primitive and basic for you ?

that is what is known as " the Socratic method " and it was a huge turn in how we think. but there was a problem, it is only based on logic and intuition. if we think that the answer is right, then it is right.

Scientists took ages to free themselves from this method and to rely not only on their common sense but also on evidence collected from careful observations. that is now called " the evidence method ".

if you can provide evidence to your idea then it is true, if not then you are false. if you think we are not alone in the universe, you must bring good evidence for your claim, if you can't then most probably, we are alone in this universe.

Nowadays we used a combination of these two methods of thinking and it is called " the model theory ". first scientists devise a hypothesis, a theory that they think will help them to understand the subject on hand, then they start to collect evidence about the subject to prove their theory, if the evidence proofed the theory, congratulations, another mystery is resolved. if not, then they must return and create a new model, one that suits the collected evidence.

It is a long and continuous process, but that is how science is formed. piece by piece and brick by brick in order to understand that mysterious world around us.

Written by / Michael Mounir Halem