In philosophy, rationality is regarded as a virtue in which a person accepts reason as their sole premise of knowledge and their guide to various actions. It also involves acting within the realms of facts and reality. Acting irrationally, on the contrary, is equated to a lack of trust with one's own mind. Philosophers, both modern and ancient have illuminated on rationality as an essential human characteristic. Many philosophers have dwelled on the subject of rationality because it is regarded the second most important human trait other than morality. 1 However, although philosophers have praised and emphasized the importance of rationality throughout history, there are several shortcomings associated with their claims.
One of the philosophers to discuss rationality is Immanuel Kant. In his arguments, he intimated that the supreme principle of rationality is known as Categorical Imperative (CI). 2 In his mind, CI should guide the way human beings think despite any inclinations and natural desires to the contrary. The CI, therefore, justifies the principles of CI while all the unnecessary actions go against its tenets. In discussing the subject, he also illustrates the importance of the rational will. He asserted that a rational will must be autonomous and free. 3 However, his theory of rationality has been massively criticized due to its tendency to promote egoistic principles. In saying so, the critics mean that the CI could lead an individual to make decisions solely based on selfishness or the impact it has on them. 4
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David Human, on the other hand, provides what is known as the “Humean conception of practical rationality.” 5 Hume believes that reason and rationality play a significant role in determining an individual's preferences. One of the principles roles played by rationality and reason include helping an individual have true beliefs about the world and secondly, choosing the right means of satisfying their desires and preferences. Therefore, for one to be regarded to have acted irrationally, they must first be guided by false belief. The second way of acting irrationality is through using ineffective means to achieve a given end. According to critics, Hume trivialized the debate on rationality by reducing it to only true beliefs and revealing the best means to fulfill desires. As such, critics view this as a limited scope of rationality that fails to cover fundamental aspects of logic.
In discussing Aquinas' philosophy on rationality, it is important to understand that he talks from a religious standpoint. He asserts that all rationality in the world emanates from the creator. He gives a complex description of the meaning of rationality when he begins by saying that rationality of the intellect reflects that of the universe. As such, rationality is not a characteristic of the mind, but rather that of the universe which subsequently imprints itself on the mind. Many critics have found an issue with Aquinas' evaluation of rationality. It is understandable to say that rationality emanates from God and thus reflects on humanity in its entirety. 6 However, the problem with his arguments is when he relates the rationality of the universe to that of people in their minds. Additionally, Aquinas is among the philosophers who do not provide the standards for rationality. 7 He only points out its origin which includes God and the universe.
One of the most celebrated philosophers especially in the area of rationality is Aristotle. He was the one who coined the phrase that human beings are rational animals. 8 In his assertions, he attempts to prove the fact that rationality is the only characteristic that distinguishes human beings from other animals. He, however, goes on to assert that human beings have a rational and irrational soul in equal measure. The Stoics further supported these claims by arguing that the irrational part is as a result of errors. Modern scientific claims also prove Aristotle's claims about human rationality by demonstrating that they have a higher IQ compared to the rest of the animals. Specific experiments conducted by philosophers, however, disapprove of the fact that human beings are indeed rational animals. Critics say that the numerous "errors of reasoning" displayed in various circumstances could be a reason to reduce humanity to the level of other animals.
Lastly, another philosopher who does much work of rationality is Rene Descartes. He begins by illustrating that human beings have an innate knowledge regarding matters of fact that do not necessarily depend on the sense of experience. 9 He asserts that human beings acquire knowledge in two primary ways with the first one being knowing certain truths naturally as part of their rational structure and secondly, through the rational intuition which enables humanity to acquire certain truths accidentally. He further identifies the position of God as the natural source of knowledge. 10 However, he is heavily criticized for his theory on rationality by people who believe that he is not analytic enough but instead employs many hidden assumptions that could easily be challenged.
In conclusion, philosophers such as Aristotle, Kant, Aquinas, Hume, and Descartes have made significant inputs in the area of rationality. It means that this is a well-studied area of philosophy that has enough evidence. What remains apparent is the fact that rationality is a principle human characteristic that enables people to apply reason in whatever they do. However, critically to appreciate is that the philosophers' theories have also received widespread criticism depending on the various loopholes or grey areas that the respective author leaves.
Bibliography
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