It Makes No Sense

The phrase "It makes no sense" is often used when something appears illogical, contradictory, or beyond human comprehension. It arises in moments when our rational faculties reach their limits—when the mind struggles to reconcile an idea with established logic, perception, or experience. However, is the pursuit of making sense of everything truly necessary, or should we simply allow ourselves to experience reality without demanding proof or rational justification?

Philosophy has long grappled with the limits of human understanding. From Socrates’ acknowledgment of ignorance to Kant’s concept of the noumenal world, thinkers have explored the boundaries between what can be known and what lies beyond human cognition. Our knowledge is inherently shaped by perception, language, and cultural conditioning, meaning that what "makes sense" to one person or society might be incomprehensible to another.

For instance, the nature of time, the concept of infinity, and the idea of a predetermined existence all challenge our rational minds. Religious and metaphysical claims, such as the idea that God knows us before we are born or that existence continues after death, appear paradoxical when viewed through a purely empirical lens. These claims do not conform to the scientific demand for proof, yet they persist across cultures and belief systems, suggesting an intrinsic human inclination to engage with realities that do not always align with reason.

If human understanding has limits, should we insist on proving and explaining everything, or should we instead embrace direct experience? Many aspects of life—love, consciousness, beauty, and spirituality—are deeply experiential. Attempting to define or prove them objectively often reduces their essence rather than enhances understanding. The more we try to dissect the experience of love, for example, the further we drift from its lived reality.

Consider mystical or religious experiences: individuals who have profound encounters with the divine often describe them as ineffable—beyond words, logic, or proof. Attempting to explain them in purely rational terms diminishes their essence. Similarly, artistic expression transcends logic; a painting or a piece of music may evoke emotions that cannot be fully articulated. These experiences are meaningful precisely because they do not fit neatly into a framework of rational understanding.

The Paradox of Proof

In the quest for proof, we often assume that what cannot be measured or demonstrated empirically is less real or significant. However, much of human existence is built on trust in things we cannot fully comprehend. We experience emotions, relationships, intuition, and even moral convictions without always being able to provide definitive proof of their origins or validity. Attempting to prove what is fundamentally experiential can sometimes strip it of its depth and richness.

Philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard argued that faith is an existential leap rather than a logical conclusion. He suggested that trying to prove God’s existence is less important than experiencing faith directly. Similarly, phenomenology, a philosophical movement spearheaded by Edmund Husserl, prioritizes direct experience over abstract reasoning. According to this perspective, reality is best understood not through detached analysis but through immersive engagement with existence itself.

Embracing the Unknown

If something "makes no sense," perhaps that is not a flaw but an invitation. Instead of resisting or dismissing what we cannot understand, we might choose to experience it fully. This does not mean abandoning reason, but rather recognizing that not all truths are accessible through logic alone. Some aspects of life, such as awe, wonder, and transcendence, are best approached through openness rather than skepticism.

Thus, instead of trying to experience and simultaneously prove something, perhaps we should allow ourselves to simply experience it. Proof, after all, is a construct of the rational mind, while experience is the foundation of being. Letting go of the need to explain everything does not equate to ignorance; rather, it allows for a deeper engagement with reality, one that acknowledges both the power and the limitations of human reason.

The phrase "It makes no sense" reflects the limitations of human reasoning. However, rather than demanding that everything conform to logical proof, we might embrace experience as a legitimate way of knowing. Life’s most profound aspects—love, spirituality, art, and existence itself—may never be fully understood, yet they remain deeply real. Instead of seeking to prove them, we might simply allow ourselves to live them.