“It is unreasonable,” “be reasonable,” “she is completely irrational”—these are phrases we often hear in discussions about “reason.” Among various aspects of human psychology, reason plays a crucial role in making things meaningful to our understanding. However, I find myself questioning whether our entire discourse and understanding of “reason” are themselves reasonable. To me, the concept of being “reasonable” or “rational” is not universal but highly relative.
For instance, arranged marriage might seem unreasonable to a Western perspective. Conversely, the concept of “individualism” as understood and practiced in the West might appear just as irrational to many Orientals, especially Indians. Yet, many Indians would argue that, although arranged marriages may seem irrational to Westerners, they work well for us, which demonstrates their reasonableness within our context.
Thus, reason is a concept developed from the collective consciousness of people over time, through numerous trials and errors. One should approach any concept in life with faith rather than relying solely on a “rationalistic” understanding.
Dayanand Bharati
Gurukulam, February 11, 2011
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