INTUITION
“Besides the cerebral knowledge we all
possess, the words and ideas stored in our
heads, there is a deeper knowledge held
within the tissue of our bodies. It is a somatic,
physical knowing which comes from direct
experience. This is the knowledge of faith, of
emotion, of the gut feeling.”
Harris, ‘Sacred Ecology’
What is Intuition?
• Unguided thinking
• Experience that can’t be explained
• Know something without knowing how you
know it
• Inner voice
• Intuitions as opposed to mere sensations,
can be informed and insightful.
What are the implications of these definitions?
Where is the intuitive world?
• Reason – head
• Intuition – other parts of body
When should we rely on intuition and when should we
not?
If we refer to knowledge as justified, true belief then
how do we gain knowledge from intuition?
Where do our intuitions come from?
• DNA or Remnant of our evolutionary past
• Learn our intuitions, dependent on reason and
experience
• Linked to the unconscious
What are the differences between rational and intuitive thinking?
Reason—slow, hard, relatively sure
Intuition – quick, easy, open to doubt
What are the implications of intuitive thinking?
• The struggle towards knowledge
• “Natural” intuitions should have free reign
• “Learned” intuitions need to be nurtured in
best possible environment
What should be the role of intuition in modern society?