In this paper, I critique our use of rationalism when navigating our relationships as it fails to encourage human connections, interpersonal understanding, and pragmatic solutions by arguing for being empirically oriented in our relationships. I argue that in order for us to love each other well, we must be empirically oriented in our relationships by being curious and actively engaging with individuals and the situations at hand. Rationalism operates by treating people and relationships as sta…
Read moreIn this paper, I critique our use of rationalism when navigating our relationships as it fails to encourage human connections, interpersonal understanding, and pragmatic solutions by arguing for being empirically oriented in our relationships. I argue that in order for us to love each other well, we must be empirically oriented in our relationships by being curious and actively engaging with individuals and the situations at hand. Rationalism operates by treating people and relationships as stagnant and solvable by using assumptions, mind reading, and biases; it does not foster understanding or connections. When we uncover and define love as something that is needing active engagement, we start to see how we must act in order to be a participant in a truly loving relationship; love is not purely a feeling, but an intention and action of nurturement.
