Synopsis: [You might view the earlier post “Rationalism: the base on reason” before this.] The focus became active, even aggressive control of the environment. However, as the globalization of business transcended international boundaries, serious inadequacies of the traditional ‘masculine’ leadership began to show up.
Rationalism meant that other (disruptive) influences had to be prevented from invading logical reasoning. Behaviourally, there was resistance to change, hence the focus on active, even aggressive control.
Sharpening the mind
The cone of consciousness trained the mind to think deeply about one thing at a time, avoiding all ‘interference’ that intuition might provide. The attempt was to separate fantasy from reality.
To sharpen the mind, anything to do with ‘instinct’ was thus consciously, consistently blocked out of the thinking process.
Techno-intelligence
The index of intelligence then was based on mathematics and verbal language. This assumption still holds in academic circles it originated in.
The orderly, systematized, familiar world – as closed systems – has been instrumental in advancements of science and technology.
The use of tools, the development of language helped people to adapt to the environment and act upon it.
The idea soon became that the environment too was controllable, and subject to man’s will. The goal was set of mastering the universe for a secure, stable and predictable ambience.
One-tracked excellence
Oral and written traditions alone would allow the transfer of information. The belief became that one-tracked pursuit of excellence leads to superior intelligence and thereby superior decision-making and problem solving.
Rationality was meant to have been as effective in corporate circles as it was in the academics, and within limits of social homogeneity, it can be so for sometime.
Effects of time
However, problems arise with time.
As the globalization of business transcends international boundaries, the dependence on rationality in transnational mergers and acquisitions ends in disaster.
Time ensures that nothing ever remains the same. Every society also sees change evolving at various different levels, including education and work for women and minorities, and rising diversity in society and the workplace.
Inadequacies
Under the rule of rationality, social development doesn’t keep pace with the advancements of technology. Consistently logical, speech-promoted intelligence fails in diverse social interactions. In unfamiliar situation and context, one-tracked thinking, decision-making and problem solving proves ineffective.
By the turn of the millennium it became clear that rational analytical thinking moves ponderously, and arrives too late for a 24-hour global marketplace.
No comments:
Post a Comment