The Paradox of Rejecting Reason: Choice or Madness?

In the modern world, the question of how consciously we are able to manage our own mind is frequently raised. On one hand, a deliberate refusal to use the rational tools of thought appears as a voluntary renunciation of an inexhaustible and universal gift that is always with us. Such a renunciation seems paradoxical, for reason is not subject to any external circumstances and is the foundation of our perception of reality. That is why the loss or disregard of this immutable quality appears not only illogical but also dangerous.

On the other hand, there exists a state in which the ability to analyze and perceive the world vanishes involuntarily, transforming into a pathological loss of control over the mind. This state is not the result of a willful decision but rather a painful evasion of responsibility, where a person becomes a hostage to their own internal conflicts. This distinction highlights just how thin the line is between a deliberate choice and an unconscious escape from reality.

Thus, the renunciation of reason becomes a symbol of paradox when the conscious decision to lose the source of understanding the world resembles the painful condition of losing control. Regardless of the motive, the value of reason, as a universal companion, remains indisputable—it is reason that shapes our view of life, connects us with the world around us, and helps us find meaning even in the toughest situations.

What is the difference between a conscious renunciation of reason and an actual descent into madness, and why might it seem absurd?

On one hand, a conscious renunciation of reason is a voluntary decision not to utilize the rational tools of thought. It is akin to choosing to give up something that is universal and inalienable—the reason, which, as noted, belongs to no one and is present everywhere. As stated in one of the texts: "Having renounced your reason, you have lost everything. For friends, glory, fatherland, and wealth are all transient; someone gave them to us by 'chance', without asking us, and can just as easily take them away without asking. However, no one gave us reason. It is neither mine nor yours; it belongs neither to friends nor enemies, neither to relatives nor strangers, neither here nor there, neither before nor after. It is everywhere, it is always, it is with everyone and above everyone. One only needs to love it—this eternal reason, always equal to oneself, belonging to no one..." (source: link ). This emphasizes that reason possesses a universal power, and consciously rejecting it means losing a valuable, life-sustaining quality, which in itself appears unwise and even absurd.

On the other hand, an actual descent into madness means the involuntary loss of the ability to perceive and analyze reality, that is, an illness in which rational thinking loses its functionality. This state is not a conscious choice but rather a pathological escape from responsibility, wherein a person essentially becomes captive to their own internal forces. It is described as follows: "In the Russian language, there is a term for such illnesses that is quite illustrative in the context of this article – s-uma-sshee-stvie or um-ishenie. ... Psychopaths are particularly suggestible in the emotional (non-verbal) sphere. This indicates that their illness was actually an unconscious escape from responsibility: they handed over their mind to demons, which could not have stolen it without the individual’s internal consent..." (source: link ). Here, the unconscious, pathological state characterized by the loss of control over reason is distinguished from a conscious renunciation, where the decision to adopt or reject a certain way of thinking is a choice—even if that choice appears contradictory and absurd.

The absurdity of such a conscious renunciation lies precisely in the fact that a person deliberately decides to abandon something that is universal and inalienable: reason, which enables us to perceive the world and find meaning within it. The renunciation of reason becomes paradoxical, for reason cannot be removed from the outside—it is lost as a result of an internal choice or a pathological condition, while reason itself remains the unchanging foundation of existence.