June 13

Reason is what differentiates humans from animals.

1

Buddha said that in his contemplations, in his life, in his conversations and in his studies he never forgot what is most important: the demands of reason.

2

The rational and the moral always agree.

3

Even if a fool was to spend the whole his whole life with a wise man, he would know no more of the truth than a spoon knows the taste of the soup.

— The Dhammapada

4

The fact that we recognize dignity in the very title of “human” compels us to respect a human being’s use of reason. A person must not reproach another for his incoherencies, must not call them nonsense, must not say that they are absurd, but, on the contrary, he must assume that they must be founded on something rational, and he must try to find it. This is followed by additional obligations: to discover the misconceptions that have deceived him and thus, by explaining the reason for his error, to support his trust in his own reason. And indeed, how can we convince a person when we do not recognize him to be in possession of reason? The same applies to accusations of vice. Such reproaches must never reach the point of contempt for the person himself. We must not deny the moral dignity in a person, we must not assume an impossibility of recovering his moral character as such an assumption is contrary to our understanding of the person as a moral being, who can never lose the faculties of good will.

— Kant

5

I cannot make anyone better except by means of the remnants of goodness within them. I cannot make anyone smarter except by means of the remnants of reason within them.

— Kant

6

The people who try to convince others that reason cannot direct life are those who, having rejected reason, have spoiled their life and have no desire to change it.

Reason is universal. Interactions between human beings are based on reason. Therefore, the demands of universal reason are essential for everyone.