An Interesting Topic

An interesting topic was brought up in Mind Readers Dictionary’s post Rational: In search of a well reasoned definition. It discusses the way we decide what choices to make. When we are confronted with choices, we have a decision to make. Because we want to make the best, or the better, decision, we often rationalize our choices. We rationalize our choices based on which one we can get the most out of, because obviously we do not want to get less out of the decision we make. According to Mind Readers Dictionary, the definition of rational is weighing the pros and cons of our choices and then comparing them. However, because

“[i]t would be impossible to weigh all potential considerations[,…] rational is therefore weighing a selected short list of considerations values and options from a near infinite list of possible considerations.”

Then, what would it mean to be irrational? According to Mind Readers Dictionary, it is not the opposite of being rational (not weighing the pros and cons of our choices), but it is a word we use to describe someone who weighs their choices differently than we do.

Mind Readers Dictionary brings up another good point:

“To weigh before you act is to be rational. To weigh after you act is to rationalize. Being rational is [considered] good. Rationalizing is [considered] bad.”

In response to this, Mind Readers Dictionary argues that being rational does not mean making good choices, adding that

“Hitler was rational.”

This post possesses many good points about rationality and irrationality. When there are choices, we often rationalize those choices to help us make the best or the better decision. However, this is not always the case because we do not always think, or rationalize, before making decisions. For example, sometimes we follow our heart or we just go with our gut feeling.