Living by Design

Rationality

In "Philosophy: Who Needs It?" Ayn Rand talks about thinking and the faculty of reason. Based on this excerpt what do you think about rationality:

Philosophy: Who Needs It?
Philosophy provides man with a comprehensive view of life. Philosophy involves an integrated view of existence/principles
Principles: integrated observations, experiences, knowledge into abstract ideas
Reason functions by integrating perceptual data into concepts. Truth is the recognition of reality. Theory is a set of abstract principles purporting to be either a correct description of reality or a set of guidelines of man’s actions. Correspondence to reality is the standard of value by which one estimates a theory. The purpose of thinking...to acquire knowledge and guide man’s actions. Logic is the art or skill of non-contradictory identification.
Nothing made by man had to be: it was made by choice.
Men’s volition (power of choice) is an attribute of his consciousness (rational faculty) and consists in the choice to perceive existence, to discover the characteristics or properties (identities) of the things that exist, means to discover and accept the metaphysically given. Only on the basis of this knowledge is man able to learn how the things given in nature can be rearranged to serve his needs (which is his method of survival).
Some men do not judge the truth of a statement by its correspondence to reality---they judge reality to its correspondence to their feelings. Since an emotion is experienced as an immediate primary, but is in fact a complex, derivative sum, it permits men to practice...rationalization.
Rationalization is the process of attempting to make reality fit one’s feelings.

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Questions about using choice to navigate life beliefs create rich discussions because they explore the dynamic relationship between our values and our agency. Here are some that work particularly well:

Questions about conscious choosing:

• How do you distinguish between choices that reflect your authentic beliefs versus those driven by external expectations?
• What role does deliberate choice play in shaping who you become, versus accepting what feels naturally given?
• When have you chosen to act against your immediate impulses in service of deeper beliefs about how life should be lived?

Questions about belief evolution through choice:

• How do your choices teach you about what you actually believe, as opposed to what you think you believe?
• What beliefs about life have you chosen to examine or abandon because of their consequences in your experience?
• How do you decide when to hold firm to a principle versus when to let your understanding evolve?

Questions about choice and uncertainty:

• How do you make meaningful choices when you're unsure about fundamental questions of life's purpose or meaning?
• What beliefs about life help you navigate decisions when outcomes are unpredictable?
• How do you choose between competing goods or conflicting values that you both hold dear?

Questions about agency and constraint:

• Where do you feel you have genuine choice in shaping your life, and where do you feel constrained by circumstances or nature?
• How do you choose what to accept versus what to try to change about your life conditions?
• What beliefs about personal responsibility versus systemic influence guide how you approach difficult situations?

Questions about choice and community:

• How do you balance choosing based on your individual beliefs with considering your impact on others?
• When do you choose to challenge prevailing beliefs in your community, and when do you choose to adapt?
• How do your choices about relationships reflect your deeper beliefs about human connection and responsibility?

These questions generate discussion because they require people to examine both their philosophical framework and their lived experience of decision-making.

Fun other context:
Cognitive f(x)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfcgQCFxj5M

Levels of development and maturity

https://youtu.be/kse87ocS0Uo?si=RLFnFXV9KKS8Lakn

Enneagram development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60V7qeJzaGc