Gut reaction. Innate knowledge. Instinct. Sixth sense. Precognition. Predisposition. Impulse. Feeling.
As compelling as the concept of intuition might seem to the reasonable individual, it is by definition the ability to acquire knowledge without the use of mental analysis. For reasons that we will explore briefly herein, intuition is held in higher esteem than an accurate common-sense appraisal of the facts as perceived by the physical senses. It is the source of beliefs that we cannot rationally justify. It involves no deliberate review of pros and cons, no disciplined progression from hypothesis to conclusion, no thrust and parry of challenge and defense to weed out a poorly-reasoned conclusion. Instead, it is highly influenced by bias and leads the individual along a circular path of non-logic: Trust in intuition is substantiated by -- you guessed it -- intuition.
Intuition is the result of the pattern-matching or classification process that quickly suggests feasible courses of action. We wouldn't survive for long as a species if we had to re-learn physics each time we walked out in front of a car. The quality of intuition is highly dependent on such accumulated knowledge and developed wisdom in a specific area. But it is also affected by our upbringing and by fear-based interpretations of past emotional pains or anticipated future pain, by blows to the ego and by pride.
Intuition leads the holder of a belief to irrationally yet often passionately suppose that the hypothesis is legitimate, prematurely precluding both dialog with holders of opposing viewpoints and further research or skeptical self-analysis. One with no track record of excellent decision making is led to feel wiser than individuals better accomplished in perhaps every measurable area. Intuition explains why one who might have been borderline incompetent at everything he ever tried nevertheless feels that he knows best when it comes to politics or religion or any area of disagreement with counterparts holding opposing positions.
As it is based on feelings more than on fact, intuition leaves the subject with the impression that it is related to a spiritual component, as if it is the result of a combination of earthly knowledge and a higher or divine knowledge, thereby strengthening defective convictions. It's a self-serving, face-saving, ego-building characteristic of our personalities. Hey, my premise really makes no sense at all, but I just have such a strong feeling that it's right. It must be a message from God.
This feeling-based decision-making is why horrible relationships that end in divorce once felt "so right". It's why individuals often take incredible risks with virtually no chance of reward. Faulty pattern-matching is responsible for conscious or subconscious ethnic stereotyping and racial profiling. All this would be simply tragic if the consequences were not so potentially grave. In fact, this flaw of ours poses one of the greatest dangers to the survival of the species. It is why peace-loving, supposedly Christ-like people vote for and support war, including one that was born when God whispered in the ear of a certain U.S. President. It's why men are guided by irrational and supernatural story lines that lead them to blow one another up. It's been an unfortunate tendency in every age, a potentially fatal one for the entire species in the era of weapons of mass destruction.
What can I do? We are never going to be perfect, but a good goal for a lifetime would be to try and be more honest with ourselves. Begin by admitting that you are -- as we all are -- more biased than you are fair. Study yourself. Try and understand why you believe as you do. Try to honestly explore every side of an argument. Lose the ego. Practice humility. Practice sincere, genuine empathy. Strive for more cooperation and less confrontation. Contemplation really is our highest calling. Reflexive gut reaction is the opposite of that. Stop and think before you speak. Let the other person speak. And pay attention.
Peace,
Jim
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