Turning to biology, the author explains that often the “WHY” is nothing more than a gut feeling because it is the limbic brain that controls all of our feelings and decision making but does not control language. It is this for this reason that we cannot put our “gut feelings” into words, we just “know” it to be true. (Id. at 86.) We have a very difficult time explaining why we “know” a certain decision to be right, we just know it!
In contrast, the WHAT and the HOW are based in the neocortex which is responsible for deliberate thought or analytical thought as well as language. Thus, we can put into words WHY we do WHAT we do. (Id.)
Using a bit of creativity, one can apply the “WHY” to conflicts, impasse and their resolution. WHY are we in this dispute? What is its purpose or what is the cause or the person’s belief as to why the conflict exists? What is the party’s vision of the dispute? If we keep asking “WHY”, hopefully we will get well “below the line” and learn the cause of the conflict.
