“Have a Cartesian mind” has always been seen as a compliment. We imagine ourselves as a rational and rigorous person – even rather square. But is this really the case in reality? Pascal Anger, psychologist, tells us more about this state of mind.
Being Cartesian: the art of having your feet on the ground
Often appreciated for their innate analytical sense, Cartesians are attractive at work, as in life.”They have a certain logic, analytical, even sometimes a little square“, admits Pascal Anger. This term also takes us back to Descartes, who appreciated them.”because of the certainty and evidence of their reasons.”
Here, the Cartesians rely on the power of reason, and do not allow themselves to be deceived by appearance or by misleading demonstration.
“They have their feet on the ground, are sure of where they stand and seek to demonstrate reality,” recognizes the expert.
For example, when faced with a mathematics problem, a Cartesian person does not rush to the solution. It identifies known/unknown data and what is requested. Then, it structures the problem: it poses clear hypotheses, verifies each calculation, ensures the consistency of the results and only validates the final solution… if the reasoning is logical and demonstrated.
In other words, his intuition never takes precedence: it is the method and the demonstration which guide his reasoning. A way of operating that has many advantages in the professional environment: it allows problems to be addressed with rigor and errors to be limited.
“It’s also appreciable, especially when you have children: if they are gifted in mathematics, if they have a Cartesian and practical mind, that’s a strength. But it’s also important that they have something other than certainties to offer,” nuances the expert.
What are the limits of this “quality”?
In areas where accuracy and logic are essential, being a Cartesian is a good thing.
“But you also have to know how to be flexible at times,” believes Pascal Anger. “Cartesianism can lead to a certain rigidity. However, in daily life, it is preferable to be nuanced in order to avoid any excess of certainties. This perception of reality can indeed play tricks on us“, he continues.
In addition, the reflection can sometimes be much simpler: do you have a problem with your employer? No need, in this case, to analyze every detail or dissect everything. Sometimes, listening to your feelings, expressing your feelings clearly or engaging in a sincere discussion is enough to bring about a solution.
Allow yourself the right to have a free mind
Faced with this complex problem – to be or not to be Cartesian – another question arises: can we recondition our brain to be light in certain situations and rigorous in others? Yes, believes Pascal Anger.
“Thanks to our mental abilities, we can observe the real relationship that we have with the rest of humanity. There are the senses and the imagination, and they are what allow us to escape. Acquiring varied knowledge can help us move away from this rigidity. It is perhaps more important to have a method than strict logic. The idea, here, is to be able to revisit one’s errors, to discover others realities”,
underlines the practitioner.
Besides, being excessively Cartesian can sometimes be boring… and not always make us happy. In this case, it is necessary to “leave the right to have a free mind“, recalls the specialist.
“Because, yes, accepting a multitude of thoughts, even when they seem to go in all directions, can be beneficial. We live today in an overly Cartesian society. Also, allowing ourselves moments of escape from time to time allows us to take a step back: it helps us to be more positive about life”, indicates the expert.
In other words, there are situations where adopting a Cartesian mindset is a good thing… and others where it is not. The good news? It is now possible for you to work on yourself in order to be fully present, here and now.