ABSTRACT
Various persons or groups of persons may perceive the same situation in various ways and these differences in perception may be very persistent. Rational-scientific thinking experiences fewer obstacles in the field of the natural science than with respect to social or psychological problems at the present time. One can state generally that strong emotions or taboos have a considerable influence also on rational thinking. The psychological theories of Freud had to overcome resistance, because they violated certain taboos, e.g. of a religious nature, or on sex-related issues. A diagnosis of limitations of rational thinking by various psychological mechanisms does not yet imply a therapy. The influences will be more often unconscious than fully conscious and often the attempt will be made to rationalize the influence of non-rational factors on thinking. The new relativism provided a new, more general, more correct and richer theory.
