Reason and Spontaneity: A New Solution to the Problem of Fact and Value

This book hypothesizes a basic misunderstanding in our commonly accepted view of the relation between reason and spontaneity. The source of this misunderstanding, Dr. Graham maintains, is the assumption that all reasoning has to be detached from the spontaneous, which is thought to function only as emotion biasing judgment. This assumption has prevented us from understanding what happens, for example, in the making of reasoned choices. Even in our most deeply considered choices, the spontaneous plays a crucial but unacknowledged role.In pursuing the far-reaching implications of his basic premise, the author proves a clear guide through a wide range of philosophical questions and makes a persuasive case for abandoning certain strictures that prevent us from expanding our understanding of both the process of reason and the nature of spontaneity.