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Rationality vs Rationalization
Posted on: March 9, 2007 - 6:40pm
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Rationality vs Rationalization
I'm interested in the difference between rational thinking and rationalization, and how they can be confused for each other. Are there any threads or books that expound on this?
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Rationalization is to make something rational, implying that it did not start out that way. Rational thinking does not carry this implication.
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=rationalization
It's only the fairy tales they believe.
rational
1 a : having reason or understanding b : relating to, based on, or agreeable to reason : REASONABLE <a rational explanation> <rational behavior>
reasonable
1 a : being in accordance with reason <a reasonable theory>
reason
1 a : a statement offered in explanation or justification <gave reasons that were quite satisfactory> b : a rational ground or motive <a good reason to act soon> c : a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense; especially : something (as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact <the reasons behind her client's action> d : the thing that makes some fact intelligible : CAUSE <the reason for earthquakes> <the real reason why he wanted me to stay -- Graham Greene>
2 a (1) : the power of comprehending, inferring, or thinking especially in orderly rational ways : INTELLIGENCE (2) : proper exercise of the mind (3) : SANITY b : the sum of the intellectual powers
3 archaic : treatment that affords satisfaction
- in reason : RIGHTLY, JUSTIFIABLY
- within reason : within reasonable limits
- with reason : with good cause
Rational = in accordance with reason
Reason = explanation or justification
I see an implication of rationality in rational thinking in that rationality uses justification and reasoning, but "justification and reasoning" used in rationality is the wrong application of justification and reasoning. Thus, one is positively using justification and reasoning, and another is using it negatively or counterproductively.
This assumes that things are absolutely right or wrong. One could argue that human laws, sciences and knowledge are subjectively correct, as new and better theories supercede older ones, so that something is less correct 100 years ago then it is now.
In the same way, a theist believes their own justifications and reasonings are correct, or common sense, or the absolute truth, and from their point of view they seem correct. They have applied reasoning and justification for their statements, just as a society applies reasoning and justification for its laws. American law, Catholic Europe law, Muslim law, all use some form of reasoning and justification which is not always absolutely correct, but based on subjectivity, false notions, and popular or widely held beliefs. Hence rationality can be rationalization.