Is Intuition a Guide to Truth?
Aug 26, 2014
Before we can answer the question, “Is intuition a guide to truth?” we’ve got to get clear on what exactly we mean by “intuition,” and particularly by the philosopher’s use of this term.
The colloquial sense of intuition is something like an instinct or premonition, a type of perception or feeling that does not depend on—and can often conflict with—conscious reasoning. Our 2012 show “Gut Feelings” with psychologist Gerd Gigerenzer deals with these kind of intuitions, and the role they ought to play in important decision-making.
Comments (5)
RepoMan05
Thursday, October 3, 2019 -- 5:24 PM
What are we really sayingWhat are we really saying when we use the word "intuition"? It's really almost a completly meaningless word. Does it mean "feelings" does it mean "the last random thing that popped into our head" does it mean "divine inspiration" does it mean "innate calculations" does it me "indoctrinated calculations." It could mean any of these, any combination of these, all of these, or even some blather i havent even blathered yet. Too broad of a term to use in any meaningful way except to leave a gap in meaning or some other artistic expression. Maybe it's better left to theistic enticements that depend on you to put meaning where there never was any to begin with, rather than, rational discourse to explain complex concepts in a meaningful way.
RepoMan05
Thursday, October 3, 2019 -- 5:46 PM
While a feather and a bowlingWhile a feather and a bowling ball fall at the same speed, they do not have tge same velocity at impact. When the bowling ball reaches a speed where it impacts into bowling ball powder, the feather bounces like a tennis ball. Saying they fall at the same speed could be seen as a half truth given the stark contrasts right at the end of the demonstration.
Do two bodys that have their own different gravitational pulls, fall at the same speed? I'd have to question it since theres a huge difference between jupiter an our moon. There's not so much difference between a bowling ball and a feather. The difference might not be noticeable with the equipment we have on hand to test the theory; not with two very similar objects like feathers and bowling balls.
RepoMan05
Saturday, October 5, 2019 -- 6:45 AM
The very first principal weThe very first principal we learn, "what does the milk machine like?"
This might go a long way to explain why millenials are so bent on emotive reasoning.
Over-active breast feeding.... hmm.
RepoMan05
Wednesday, November 6, 2019 -- 11:29 AM
I think tho that intuitionI think tho that intuition could be a map to truth. Its natural, after all. But i still think that map has to be read by a qualified technician. Even then, the technician would just be giving a disjuncted opinion.
jpz79
Thursday, December 9, 2021 -- 9:53 AM
Seems a bit of cherry pickingSeems a bit of cherry picking. Intuitions are just non-cognitive (subconscious or psuedo-conscious) processes. The 'intuition' that you speak of is quite different than empirical intuitions that often lead into answers after experimental tinkering. Einstein's intuition that light was a constant speed at 16 years old, was the basis for his theory of relativity much later. In the theory of relativity there is also some empirical (computational) intuitions - for example Einstein 'intuiting' Pythagraems theorem in his thought experiements. So a lot of times, intuition follows experiment (or it happens very quickly). Another example Galelios intuition was correct about inertia.....a ball rolling downhill goes faster, uphill slows down, so it would continue forever inertially without gravity (or air).