Heschel refers to a “deeper knowledge” and observes that “what is we cannot say.” Heschel states about the ineffable aspect of consciousness which is beyond conscious expression: “Essential to human thought is not only the technique of symbolization but also the awareness of the ineffable. In every mind there is an enormous store of not-knowing, of being puzzled, of wonder of radical amazement.” (Quest p.139)
Albert Einstein believed intuition and imagination were far more important to understanding than rational analysis and logical deduction. The iconic neuroscientist Damasio believed people have a nonconscious sense of being.
Rappaport’s argument that “Higher order meanings… the meanings of metaphor, symbol, and value, are not grounded directly in observations of nature and are thus relatively free from constraints to conform to it.” (p. 84 Ecology) Rappaport is not the only scientist to make the distinction between meanings connected with physical reality and meanings of a higher order of complexity.
Roy Baumeister, a prominent social psychologist, makes a distinction between meanings derived from the physical environment and other meanings, as well. As an important point of order, Baumeister, emphasized that – in actuality – there is “No Meaning to Life” – that “The meaning of Life is in truth a synthesis of the diverse “meanings” of life – derived from family, friends, education, religious beliefs, ethnicity, as well as upbringing and culture. Of course – such a complex synthesis and holistic being is beyond rational analysis and requires a “deeper
As William James observes, “The truth is that in the metaphysical and religious sphere, articulate reasons are cogent for us only when our inarticulate feelings of reality have already been impressed in favor of the same conclusion…..The unreasoned and immediate assurance is the deep thing in us, the reasoned argument is but a surface exhibition.