The human capacity for reason sets us apart on the evolutionary stage. But our intuition also played a crucial role in our rise to the top. We can cultivate greater intuition through systematic learning and persistent exposure to high-quality information.

Hundreds of millions of years of animal evolution forged a crucial tool for survival — animal instinct. The power of instinct allows animals to respond instantly to threats.

Our species stood out not for our powerful jaws or lightning-fast speed, but due to our capacity for reason. However, the problem with reason is that it takes time to execute — a luxury that animals don’t have when facing threats to survival.

Humans evolved another capacity that played a crucial role in our rise to the top of the food chain. The uniquely human power of intuition blends the speed of instinct with the knowledge gained through reason.

We can cultivate our intuition through intentional and systematic efforts to consume high-quality information over a period of years. Highly attuned intuition can be a superpower, analyzing complex patterns and instantly generating profound insights into novel solutions to thorny problems.

Check out the full transcript here:
https://projectindra.org/apotheosis-podcast/episode-44-instinct-reason-and-intuition/