Ever had a debate with someone where it felt like they were just refusing to see the obvious truth? You laid out the facts, the logic was solid, and yet—nothing. They still clung to their ridiculous, batsh#*t opinion.
Well, congrats, you just ran into Hume’s little philosophical landmine: Reason is, and ought only to be, the slave of the passions.
Translation? Logic isn’t driving the bus—emotion is. You think you’re a rational, logical person making well-reasoned decisions, but in reality, you’re just feeling things first and then using logic like a desperate lawyer scrambling to justify it all. And guess what? Everyone else is doing the same damn thing.
The Big Fat Lie of Rationality
People love to think they’re rational. We put so much stock into “facts,” “evidence,” and “logic.” We assume if we just explain our point clearly enough, people will obviously come around.
That’s adorable.
In reality, every decision—whether it’s choosing a political party, buying a car, or deciding whether pineapple belongs on pizza—starts from an emotional place. The facts? They come later. If they even matter at all.
Here’s how the mental sausage gets made:
- You feel something first. Maybe you’re scared, angry, excited, or nostalgic.
- Your brain scrambles to justify it. It builds a logical case around whatever you already believe.
- You defend your “logical” stance like it was handed down from the gods. Because if your logic is wrong, then your feelings might be wrong too, and your brain hates that idea.
This is why people double down when proven wrong. Their emotions are still in the driver’s seat, and logic is just along for the ride, nodding along like a damn puppet.
Why We Judge Others with Logic but Ourselves with Emotion
Ever notice how when you make a decision, you have a whole backstory for it?
- “I had a gut feeling.”
- “It just made sense at the time.”
- “Something about it just felt right.”
But when someone else makes a decision you disagree with, suddenly all that nuance vanishes. They’re just being irrational. Or brainwashed. Or a dumb motherfricker.
We judge ourselves by our intentions and everyone else by their actions. It’s a lovely little hypocrisy that makes human interaction a goddamn minefield.
If someone votes differently than you, you assume it’s because they’re uninformed or illogical. But in their mind, their emotions and experiences led them to a completely valid decision—just like yours did for you.
The Real Reason This S#*t is a Problem
You can’t reason someone out of a belief they didn’t reason themselves into. That’s why debates feel like shouting into the void. You’re hitting them with facts, but they’re operating on feelings.
This is a big f^%king deal when it comes to politics, religion, relationships, and basically any high-stakes emotional issue. If we only try to understand people through logic, we’re always going to be baffled by them. Because their motivations aren’t based on logic in the first place.
So Are We Just F^%ked?
Not necessarily. But if you actually want to change someone’s mind—or hell, just understand why they think the way they do—you need a different approach.
- Recognize that logic is just a tool, not the starting point. If you want to get through to someone, you need to tap into why they feel the way they do first. What’s driving their belief emotionally?
- Stop assuming you’re the rational one. Sorry, but you’re just as emotionally-driven as the next person. Your logic is just prettier.
- If you want to persuade, start with empathy. People don’t change their minds because they lost an argument. They change their minds when they feel heard, understood, and emotionally safe enough to reconsider their stance.
FAQ (F^%king Annoying Questions)
Q: So logic is useless? Should we just go full emotional chaos mode?
A: No, you lunatic. Logic is useful, but only when it’s applied in the right place. It helps us refine our emotional instincts and make better choices—butit’s not how we actually make decisions in the first place.
Q: But I make decisions rationally! I’m not like those emotional idiots!
A: Oh, sweet summer child. No, you don’t. You just think you do because your emotions and logic are aligned most of the time. When they’re not? That’s when the mental gymnastics start.
Q: How do I win an argument with someone who’s emotionally invested in a dumb opinion?
A: You don’t “win.” You either make them feel understood enough to reconsider their stance, or you dig your heels in and both walk away convinced the other person is an idiot.
Q: Does this mean free will is an illusion and we’re just slaves to our feelings?
A: Now that’s a spicy philosophical meatball. Short answer: Kinda, yeah. But that’s a whole other article.
So What the F^%k Do We Do With This?
Look, if we want to have better conversations, less divisive debates, and maybe—just maybe—a little more sanity in the world, we need to stop pretending that people are logic-driven robots.
We feel first, then think. Understanding that doesn’t make you weak; it makes you smarter.
So next time you’re in a debate and you just can’t believe how irrational the other person is being, take a second and remember: they’re feeling their way through it—just like you are.
And for f^%k’s sake, don’t be a d!ck.