Jonathan Haidt on Rationality vs. Intuition

Rationality vs Intuition

In The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt shares a striking story that reveals the psychological tension between rational disbelief and emotional intuition.

He describes a man who confidently claims he does not believe in God—he is secular, rational, and skeptical. Yet, when asked if he would sign a contract selling his soul to the devil, he refuses.

Why? If he truly rejects belief in God and the devil, the contract should be meaningless. But Haidt highlights the deeper truth: our minds are not ruled by logic alone. They are shaped by intuition, emotion, and cultural residue. The man’s hesitation reflects not theology, but the symbolic weight of the act. Somewhere deep within, the phrase “selling his soul” stirs fear, taboo, and moral discomfort.

Haidt’s point is clear: humans are not just rational agents—we are meaning-makers. Even when conscious beliefs dismiss the supernatural, our unconscious minds may still respond to its symbols with reverence or dread.

This story captures Haidt’s larger thesis: intuition comes first, reasoning follows—often as a way to justify what we already feel.

It’s a vivid reminder that belief isn’t always about doctrine. Sometimes it’s about the stories we carry, the rituals we avoid, and the invisible lines we refuse to cross—even when we claim they don’t exist.

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