Can anyone suggest visual symbols for Reason? I need one for a project I’m working on.
Specifically, I’m looking for something that could represent the concept of Reason, but isn’t associated with any modern politics, and doesn’t rely on an understanding of modern science. i.e. the first thing that came to mind was a sketch of an atom, but that won’t suit. It should be recognizeable to a pre-industrial scientist or philosopher.
On googling, the best fit I’ve found so far was a lit candle; Reason as a light in the darkness. That should give an idea of where my head’s at.
Can anyone suggest visual symbols for Reason? I need one for a project I’m working on.
Specifically, I’m looking for something that could represent the concept of Reason, but isn’t associated with any modern politics, and doesn’t rely on an understanding of modern science. i.e. the first thing that came to mind was a sketch of an atom, but that won’t suit. It should be recognizeable to a pre-industrial scientist or philosopher.
On googling, the best fit I’ve found so far was a lit candle; Reason as a light in the darkness. That should give an idea of where my head’s at.
A geometric pattern or construction. Maybe a golden spiral. Or something that looks like it’s out of Da Vinci’s notebooks.
A map, or a star map.
A perspective drawing with very obvious foreshortening.
Something based on the allegory of the cave or the divided line of Plato? The latter probably wouldn’t stand without explanation, though.
A version of what you think: the title image from this blog post: http://www.studentguidewebdesign.com/be-rationale-why-creative-rationality-is-important/ , or maybe from this one: http://rationallyspeaking.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-community-of-reason-self-assessment.html
The first link is broken, and the second one doesn’t seem too relevant. How about the Thinker? Or a picture of a brain?
Fixed first link (stray comma at the end)
Knowledge that the brain is the seat of intelligence might be too high-tech, but I think The Thinker is a good idea.