The Rational Triangle

 
 

     Another word for “irrational” is “insane”. The word ration implies portions or
balance.  A rational person we think of as  being “balanced”. Rationality is comprised of
a healthy proportion of logic, emotion and imagination. Of these, imagination is the least
appreciated.  Imagination is necessary to create, pretend, fantasize, empathize,
appreciate, reminisce, dream and invent. Albert Einstein was no doubt alluding to this
when he said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
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     Computers are very good at logic and have impeccable memories.  What computers
lack is imagination.  Best we be careful before we develop a computer with an
imagination or the human species will have a new master!
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     Emotion is synonymous with memory. Some emotions are stronger than others.
Pure data is not likely to elicit much of a response but instruction sets can generate every
feeling from mild curiosity to violent temper tantrums.
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     Logic is simply the validation of data. Two mosquitos plus three ants plus five flies
equals ten bugs.  This is logic.
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     We are born with a marvelous imagination.  Watch a baby talk to itself or a toddler
pretending. Adults enjoy a play at a theater or amuse themselves watching a game. There
is a little bit of “Walter Mitty” in all of us and who hasn't entertained our self with a little
fantasy, now and then?
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     Imagination is a fragile gift. It can be severely destroyed by well meaning parents.  A
child is born with the ability to distinguish the difference between reality and fantasy.  It
is the parents who often can not and pass this crippling affliction on to their children.
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     Imagination is far more than amusement.  It is necessary for our very survival as a
“thinking” self aware species. The very concept of  “choice” begs our imagination.  Does
a child called to the head of a classroom asked to choose between a cookie or a cracker
from a tray, choosing the cookie from real “choice” or is he or she merely reacting from a
sweet tooth that most children have? As the cartoon of the scientists pondering the
complex equations at his board, “It strongly suggests that everything is predestined but if
you want to get anything done, best you at least pretend you have a say in the matter.”

 

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