The Four Ages of Man

1) Religion:

This, the first thesis of man is characterized by an intuitive understanding of the world, and an world views based on myth.

2) Scholasticism:

The next age is a synthesis of the first and a new idea, Science. Science and logic step in to elaborate on Religion, but start with the basic metaphysical world view that the person already possesses.

3) Science:

In the third age, the antithesis of man’s first thesis, man attempts to give up world views based on or reliant upon unsupported intuitive ideas; and instead trade them for sheer Science and logic, becoming neigh dogmatic in his adherence. In doing so man splits his psyche into two opposing social cabals, academic and theological, both of which hold the other in deep contempt. Members of these cabals are characterized by attacking (often verbally in the case of the academics and physically in the case of theologians though there are instances of role reversal) anyone who disagrees with their Truth, because disagreement to them is not the root of growth but the seed of the destruction of what they know as true.

4) Bilateralism:

In the fourth age of man we return to synthesis, man embraces his dual nature as a rational and intuitive creature; recognizing the place of both functions. However instead of being founded on intuition and elaborated by reason, it is the reverse.

The roles become clear with the application of an example. Long before we understood even the basic rules of physics our unconscious mind, the super processor that it is, was capable of calculating the trajectories of fast moving projectiles, like rocks, and was even capable of intercepting them midair. And while modern physics has allowed us to gain rational knowledge of the movements of projectiles, calculating trajectories using formulas and conscious measurements during a baseball game would be laughable, not to mention counterproductive.

So what purpose does Science have if our intuition is so powerful? Science is in the business of figuring out how things work by repeated observation and logical generalization; which then serves the basis for logical extrapolation. Science allows us to do what intuition can’t, to see from a perspective outside our own, that of generalizations. However intuition is still better suited for every day life.

So it is with Truth, Science makes excellent predictive models about the way the the universe works, but in day to day situations intuition is better equipped to supply us with information that is relevant to our unique perspectives.

So the fourth age of man is characterized by intuition informed by rationality, working in harmony.

::Note::

As the rational mind and the intuitive mind are present in all human beings throughout all of the ages of man there have allways been those who did not conform to their age.