“Cave rationality”: lesson from ancient philosophy of the irrational for contemporary research on critical thinking

The contemporary world is characterized by information overload, complex social interactions, and diverse value systems. In this context, traditional definitions of critical thinking as a set of logical procedures or an individual cognitive ability prove insufficient to explain phenomena related to persistent biases, cognitive limitations, and the social context of knowledge. At the same time, limitations of human cognition have long been a classical problem in philosophy, and this article proposes to deepen the understanding of critical thinking by examining the reverse side of knowledge as ignorance and irrationality. Turning to the allegory of the cave and concepts of multidimensional ignorance allows understanding irrationality not as a mere lack of knowledge, but as an integrated part of cognitive and social experience. Based on these concepts, it is argued that critical thinking cannot be understood solely as an individual cognitive ability or a set of logical procedures. Instead, it is a socially conditioned, relational process that includes awareness of one's own and others' limitations, the ability to engage with collective norms, and the capacity to manage cognitive, emotional, and social conflicts.