National Day of Reason

Reason, along with its foundational virtue common sense, is in very short supply in the humanity of our world today.  Every day I am brutally appalled by the behavior of people around me.  Each and every time I must ask myself what runs through the mind of a person who would _____ (fill in the blank).  For example, as I pick up litter around the apartment complex, I can't help but notice people littering as if they honestly don't know any better.  A gross negligence while I'm in the very act of cleaning up after them.  There are other examples I could give, but people amaze me.  How about giving a little thought to figuring out the situation at-hand before asking a question.  Many times a little forethought could easily answer the curiosity of the inquirer.  Oh, here's a good one...  People ask if I work here, meaning at the store they currently find me at.  Well, let's see.  First, that person is not asking the right question for the answer they seek.  What they really want to know is if I work for the company in whose store I am presently in.  Then, I must answer, "Yes, I am presently working 'here.'  However, do you really think the company would allow me to work in shorts and a non-collared shirt?  Besides, where is there anywhere on me indicating the company name?  Again, yes I work 'here' at the moment, but I do not work for the company in whose store I am in presently."  Ugh!  A rather convoluted answer, all of which is probably lost on the person who is asking.  I'm better off simply saying, "No, I don't work for ____ (fill in company name)."  The very basis of reason and how it can be applied are found in the works of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, and a whole host of philosophers from ages past.  If that is beyond one's effort and desire to pursue, about about simply striving after common sense.  For many people, that would be one giant leap forward.  The subject of reason could consume volumes of paper and research, but hopefully I've pointed everyone in the right direction at least for an initial journey toward the topic.  Reason and logic drive everything I do in life.  Sometimes I think life would be easier to live and people more tolerable to be around if I was simply struck dumb and ignorant.  Or maybe I need to hold out more hope for people.

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