The idea that you should “follow your gut” or “listen to your intuition” has become popular in Western culture and the self-help industry of late. Figures from Warren Buffet to Jordan Peterson tell us to “listen to your intuitions” and “go with your gut feelings,” implying that listening to your emotions is more effective than thinking deeply about your decisions. There are even self-help websites offering courses in “How To Follow Your Gut Feeling No Matter What” and “How to Follow Your Gut Feeling Instead of Going with Logic.”

So what does it mean to “follow your gut”? We’ve all felt, at one time or another, an inexplicable apprehension about. . .