BEYOND REASON

RECLAIMING INTUITION IN THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF HUMAN COGNITION

Abstract

This essay revisits the epistemological significance of the dual faculties of human cognition: intellect and intuition. While modern philosophy and science have largely privileged the intellect—characterised by logic, empirical verification, and analytical reasoning—this narrow epistemic framework neglects the equally vital role of intuition. Drawing on both Western and African philosophical traditions, the essay proposes an integrative epistemology that reclaims intuition as a legitimate and indispensable mode of knowing. Building on insights from Schopenhauer, James, Jung, Wilber, and Assagioli, as well as African thinkers such as Mbiti, Ramose, and Gyekye, the study explores how intuition enables access to metaphysical, symbolic, and moral truths that lie beyond the reach of discursive thought. Intuition is shown to be not irrational but trans-rational: a faculty of direct perception that complements the organising power of  the intellect. The essay further argues that African epistemologies—particularly those grounded in Ubuntu and indigenous wisdom systems—have long recognised this dual structure of knowing, emphasising relational, experiential, and spiritual dimensions. The implications of this integrative model are far-reaching. In education, it calls for curricula that develop both analytical and intuitive capacities, fostering holistic learners. In society, it advocates for a more ethically grounded and spiritually attuned approach to knowledge and leadership. By restoring the balance between intellect and intuition, this essay contributes to a more inclusive, cross-cultural, and multidimensional understanding of human cognition—one that is better suited to the complexities of contemporary existence.