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Full Idea
I think there are very good grounds for upholding the view that the feeling of rationality is constituted merely by the absence of any feelings of irrationality.
Gist of Idea
It seems that we feel rational when we detect no irrationality
Source
William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.20)
Book Ref
James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.20
A Reaction
A very interesting proposal. Nothing is more basic to logic (well, plausible versions of logic) than the principle of non-contradiction - perhaps because it is the foundation of our natural intellectual equipment.
Related Idea
Idea 22642 Man has an intense natural interest in the consistency of his own thinking [James]