Reason Follows One Into Everyday Life

When I first became a rationalist, I was awed by just how apparent it is to anyone who tries to understand reason for its own sake that not even the most menial, dull, or hectic aspects of everyday life exclude philosophical contemplation.  Philosophy is sometimes conceived of as something that the average person might not have time for, as if the whole of their life does not already revolve around philosophy whether or not they realize it.  There is no escape from that which engulfs all of one's existence.  Consequently, even the most mundane or taxing parts of practical life cannot leave someone wholly unable to pursue philosophical developments spurred on by rational thinking.

Logic can be reflected on during any activity, no matter how practically necessary or demanding it is.  There is no need to separate the "philosophical" and "practical" components of one's life because practicality, like all things, is philosophical, even though it is not anywhere near as abstract of an issue as matters of pure logic.  Philosophy permeates all things, for anything that exists or does not exist and anything that is true is within the scope of philosophy.  It is impossible for anything at all to be outside of it!  Not only is practicality itself a matter of philosophy, though certainly its least significant facet, but philosophy can be actively recognized, contemplated, and understood regardless of whatever practical activities one must perform.

One's worldview and capacity to grasp reason do not vanish upon the start of some trivial task or with the "banality" of common life.  The intellect does not fade away in periods of boredom or when one must engage in practical matters.  That the laws of logic govern all things means one can never escape it at any time of one's life, and the intellect that grasps those laws, as a part of one's own mind, is constantly carried from one aspect of life to another.  Reason and the philosophical issues reason illuminates are themselves part of everyday life and the practical concerns that people face.

It is not necessary to sit down in a relaxing environment without pressing tasks at hand to clearly grasp reason.  Likewise, it is not necessary to be in a busy environment surrounded by tasks and the words of others in order to think of concepts and ideas to explore.  With reason as one's guide into a darkness that will otherwise be navigated without any certainty whatsoever, one can think of at least truths and concepts pertaining strictly to logic and immediate experience at any time and in any location.  The only thing necessary for a person to reflect rationally is the ability to grasp reason, without which a person would not even be aware of their own existence on any level whatsoever.  Moreover, nothing else would be grasped.

However, while a constant grasp of reason is necessary for experiences that can be understood on any level, even though many people show no signs of grasping reason beyond the minimum threshold required to merely engage in practical affairs, understanding the nature of the overlap between abstract truths of reason and philosophy and the practical matters of everyday life must be intentionally obtained.  The immediate accessibility of logic still needs one's attention and effort if it is to be harnessed.  No matter where one is or what one's daily life consists of, logical truths are waiting for acknowledgment.