The Limits of Rationality

Rationality means that your beliefs conform with your reasons to believe. If you believe that the Earth is round because you looked at all the evidence then you are being rational. If you believe the Earth is round because your parents always told you so, or because you think it's a prettier shape then your belief is correct, but your reasoning is irrational.

Rationality has gifted us many shiny and wonderful things like the scientific method, fairer justice systems and overall better decision making techniques. But it is only a means to an end; it cannot tell us what we should value or how we should measure progress.

We now live in a world with better nutrition, education, medical care and personal freedom than humanity has ever known. But we measure progress in terms of GDP rather than happiness and many people struggle to find meaning in their lives.

Are we missing something in our devotion to rationality? Is rationality a particularly Western idea that ignores the merits of other cultures? Is there a better way to understand the world and our place in it?

Excerpt

Rationality means that your beliefs conform with your reasons to believe. It has gifted us many shiny and wonderful things like the scientific method, fairer justice systems and overall better decision making techniques. But it is only a means to an end; it cannot tell us what we should value or how we should measure progress.

Suggested Reading

• Wikipedia
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationality
• Consequences of Reason
  http://philosophizethis.org/consequences-of-reason/
• Leo Strauss
  http://philosophizethis.org/leo-strauss/

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