Reason and Intuition in Dr. Radhakrishnan's Philosophy

Summary

In this essay the author analyses the role of reason and intuition in Dr. S. Radhakrishnan’s philosophical system. Radhakrishnan is portrayed as a thinker who sought to harmonise rational analysis with direct spiritual experience. The article begins by clarifying that for Radhakrishnan, reason is an invaluable tool for organising experience and communicating insights, but it is not the ultimate source of knowledge. He distinguishes between discursive reason, which operates through concepts and language, and intuition, which is an immediate apprehension of reality. The author traces Radhakrishnan’s critique of Western rationalism and positivism. While acknowledging the achievements of science and logic, Radhakrishnan points out their inability to grasp the transcendent dimension of existence. He draws on the Upanisads and the works of poets and mystics to argue that intuition reveals the unity of self and Brahman beyond the dualities imposed by thought. The article explains that this intuition is not irrational; rather it is suprarational, grounding and enriching rational thought. Reason, in Radhakrishnan’s view, must recognise its own limits and open itself to the insights of intuition. The paper explores how Radhakrishnan applies this epistemological framework to ethics and religion. He argues that moral values are not derived from utilitarian calculation but are intuited as expressions of the inner nature of reality. Religious symbols and rituals, when interpreted intuitively, lead to transformative insight rather than dogmatic belief. The author notes that Radhakrishnan emphasises the need for personal spiritual practice to awaken this intuitive faculty. At the same time he warns against anti‑intellectualism and stresses the importance of critical reason in preventing superstition. By comparing Radhakrishnan’s approach with Western philosophers who have emphasised intuition—such as Bergson and Scheler—the article highlights his originality in situating intuition within the context of Indian metaphysics. Radhakrishnan’s philosophy is presented as an attempt to bridge the gap between science and spirituality, demonstrating that rational inquiry and mystical experience can complement rather than oppose each other.