Obviously, I have not been exhaustive in my comments about the book, and I’m beginning to think that might wait for a couple of days until I can gather my thoughts, and treat the book itself in another post. However, I just want to comment briefly on the points you bring up.

I have probably been a bit unclear in some of my statements in the above. I did not as such mean it to be a specific NF/NT post, but rather a T/F post. However, I chose the NF/NT paradigms more narrowly because those are the types I am more familiar with. I believe some of the essence of what I write can be applied to a F-type, though such an individual would probably have chosen a different mode of expression.

I do agree, of course, that everyone is imbued with reasoning capabilities. Most NF’s I know – even the ones who lean towards the SJ-type as the secondary – tend to be very capable of reasoning, and thoroughly enjoy using their intellectual capabilities (although there is something in me that just doesn’t like it when I use that word ). But, there is still a difference as to how one chooses to reason, what one chooses to assign value in the reasoning process, to what end, and what place one assigns reason.

I also believe that when you say reason, you might very well mean something slightly different than when I say reason (this ‘reason’ would probably to me be more sterile, while mine might to you be less consistent).

I would like to hear how you see reason and being rational as fundamentally different. To me, I would immediately link the origin of the two, even if they have different flavours, but I haven’t given it much thought.

I believe the fundamental difference may well be that you as an NT would be truly comfortable with only basing your decision-making on what you can logically deduce. I, on the other hand, would not. Mainly because I feel (whether or not this is true or false) that reason (the logical, rational kind) only goes that far. From there, there are other more intuitive, or even revelatory aspects of life that takes over. But here, I am probably beginning my next blog post on ‘Could it be this simple’

Thank you very much for your inputs. Don’t see this as trying to devalue them.

Stay tuned for more on this book sometime

I think I am using the term in a broader sense – to ‘feel good’ about something, i.e. be in a state where you are generally happy/comfortable, but yes, of course this also involves your feelings.

And yes, I do believe that the rational will generally also feel (emotionally) better (overall) when he knows he is acting in a more detached rational way in specific situations, acting on the basis of consistent logical reasoning. This may run counter to his feelings in a given situation, but I believe it will give him a greater emotional satisfaction overall, knowing that he has acted in the ‘right’ way (to him). (also bear in mind that when I say feelings, I am not necessarily talking about sudden urges or drives)

Where I, as an idealist, would differ, probably, is that I would simply not be satisfied acting in a (to me) so detached way. I intuitively don’t see this as the right way, or the true sole basis for decisions. (still bear in mind I’m not talking about sinful behaviour here)

Just my 5-minute thoughts on this

But is it really an issue for the rational whether he feels good or bad about the choises he makes? My understanding was that the rational would choose to do whatever’s rational regardless how he ‘feels about it’. Simply trying to understand the theory here.

Good point.

“Before we go on, I think there may be some confusion when it comes to the ‘thinking’ types as opposed to the ‘feeling’ types. In Keirsey’s model of reworking the Myers-Briggs inventory, he renames the T to tough-minded and the F to friendly, indicating that the T-types tend to be more detached when making decisions, and the F-types tend to be more involved people-wise when making decisions.”

Mhm!

Lol, think I have to stop copying your post now. U have too many good points, and I am not really contributing with something new here ;p

Just wanted to say, what I said in my own post, that I believe our traits are both our weaknesses and our strengths. We need to learn and use them for the good, and let God use them through us. I do not think we should try and get rid of any of them, because I believe God created us to be different, and that He will use the different traits for the best…