Why Does Gandhi Think That Reason Is Ambiguous and How Can It Be Trained?
Gandhi regarded reason as a valuable but limited tool. He believed that while reason helps individuals differentiate between right and wrong, it can also be influenced by personal biases, desires, and social conditioning. Therefore, reason is inherently ambiguous—it does not always lead to truth unless guided by higher ethical and spiritual principles.
To Gandhi, pure reason is neutral. It can be used to justify both good and evil actions depending on the user’s intent. That’s why he stressed that reason must be trained and guided by moral values like truth, non-violence, and love. He believed that by cultivating inner discipline and self-purification, individuals can align reason with their conscience and spiritual awareness.
Thus, in Gandhian philosophy, training of reason involves ethical education, spiritual growth, and adherence to truth. Only then can it become a trustworthy guide for human action.