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My First to Post to Voice of Reason

By Bob Dunn

Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group West Coast Realty

July 04, 2009 02:08 PM

Ayn Rand argued that we should live our life by reason alone and that reason is based on observation of the world that we experience. She did not observe God in her world so she reasoned that there is no God and laid her claim to atheism based upon reason.

But Aristole and Plato would argue that reason has its faults because reason is based upon false perceptions of our environment. Aristole and Plato would prefer to interpret the world through logic. Their position on God differed from Ayn Rand's.

Today people mix up these two concepts. They claim to have taken a reasonable stance because they have gathered the information, interpreted it logically and arrived at a conclusion.

There is a real problem here. Whether we think we are using logic or reason to arrive at a reasonable position we are not arriving at an uncontaminated position.

My reasonable position is based on my experiences and yours are based on your experience. I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and as a result what I find as reasonable is going to be a whole lot different to the person who was raised with some luxuries and exposure to education and the arts.

A "Reasonable Voice" has become a term we use for different purposes.

At play in our societies today is a fear of "hurting someone's feeling" of offending someone who does not hold to our beliefs. To avoid these injuries to others we look to the voice of reason to include those people in our world.

Perhaps the "voice of reason" is best described as a workable position. At most work places we need to obtain consensus in order to move towards a common goal.

While these accomplishments have value there is a personal cost. When we both have different positions based on our reasonable voices someone one or both have to betray their reasonable voices in order to obtain the end result.

To me the real question is not about the reasonability of our voice but it's a question of how we can obey our voice of reason while working towards a common goal and still remain in a position of integrity.

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Suesan Jenifer Therriault

JTHIS-Professional Home Inspection Team - Blakeslee, PA

"Inspecting every purchase as if it were my own".

Bob, outstanding post filled with very true analogies. Reason will always be swayed by what we perceive and that will be based on personal experience as well as logic. I'd like to add that regardless of ones own position or thought with regards to subject, there is the one unmistakable fact that "You have a right to your opinion and I have a right to mine, but we both have the right to respectfully disagree". Respectfully being the operative word that is so often ignored.

Again, this is excellent post and I hope to be reading more of your opinions and posts.
Sue

Jul 05, 2009 02:23 AM

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Very well written and thought out Bob.. Although Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead are a couple of my favorite books - I don't share all of her viewpoint........but its an interesting perspective........Reason by its very nature is subjective......there probably isn't 'reasonable' nor 'unreasonable'........it just is what it is........until we choose our own paint colour....

Jul 06, 2009 05:06 PM

Linda Bourgault

lulugraphix-creative photography & fine art - Flower Mound, TX

Bob—Ayn Rand's philosophy of objectivism is fraught with certain ideas I can't embrace, however, her idea of freedom and protection of our freedom is one I can stand by.

As Suesan says, reason is swayed by our individual experiences which I agree is true.

"To me the real question is not about the reasonability of our voice but it's a question of how we can obey our voice of reason while working towards a common goal and still remain in a position of integrity." For me it boils down to being able to understand my reasoning for arriving at a particular position and deciding if my reason (in part or its whole) can serve the greater good... if it can then compromise(s) can be made without destroying my integrity.

Great post... I look forward to reading more from you. Thank you visiting my blog recently.

Jul 08, 2009 01:40 AM

Bob Dunn

Sutton Group West Coast Realty - Abbotsford, BC

Suesan Respect is so necessary. It unfortunate that in some human interaction "being right" supercedes respectfulness.

Thanks for you comments.

Jul 08, 2009 12:20 PM

Liz I thought Ayn rand would be passe in this age. I remember when I read her a very long time ago being impressed, bewildered and annoyed at her positions.

Jul 08, 2009 12:22 PM

For me it boils down to being able to understand my reasoning for arriving at a particular position and deciding if my reason (in part or its whole) can serve the greater good... if it can then compromise(s) can be made without destroying my integrity.

Linda you have a little used talent in our world of immediate sound bites ... actually thinking about your actions beforehand.

Jul 08, 2009 12:26 PM

A definition of integrity I like and one I learned in a personal development workshop years ago ...

Integrity occurs when ones actions are consistent with ones core beliefs.

The difficulty is that there are people with pretty terrible beliefs that can be in their place of integrity which causes much harm to others.

Jul 08, 2009 12:30 PM

Al & Peggy Cunningham, Brokers

RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage - Brampton, ON

Our Family Wants To Help Your Family!

Bob, what a thought provoking post. "When we both have different positions based on our reasonable voices someone one or both have to betray their reasonable voices in order to obtain the end result." This has always been a question I ask myself.

Sue also hightlighted a great point. "You have a right to your opinion and I have a right to mine, but we both have the right to respectfully disagree". Respectfully being the operative word that is so often ignored.

So many excellent points in this post. Thank you

Jul 12, 2009 01:29 AM

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