Evaluate The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Reason As A Way Of Knowing.
Reason involves the ability to think, understand and draw conclusions in an abstract way. It is a way of knowing in which we construct meanings together through modifying and improving individual opinions and ideas, in order to reach a logical and plausible conclusion. In other words, it is the ability to help people decide what is true and what is not. Most of the time reason is more commonly related to math and science subjects, where logic is put into place in order to obtain logical validity and justified claims. But on the other hand reason can cloud knowledge to a certain extent, in the case of different cultural beliefs as well as more creative subjects such as music and art. This is because we also rely on perception and emotion. Moreover we also require the use of emotion and perception in order to gain reason. Thus reason can help use gain knowledge, but only to a certain extent as there are strengths and weaknesses in the case of reason as a way of obtaining knowledge.
in thee,
Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers
Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth
Of Creatures animate with gradual life
Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summ'd up in Man
Milton in “Paradise Lost” says that God made man superior to animals by endowing him with reason. Satan persuaded Eve by stressing that the consummation of all virtues is reason. Adam too tells Eve that smiles flow from reason, and this is the reason why beasts cannot smile.
or this sweet intercourse
Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,
To brute deni'd, and are of Love the food,
Reason is the quintessence of life. God blessed man with Reason and Will. But God warned Adam to rein the will lest it should be inveigled by some tempting forces. Milton says that Reason made man invincible and he could receive no harm against his Will.
The danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Against his will he can receave no harme.
But God left free the Will, for what obeyes
Reason, is free,...
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