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Irrationality




Irrationality is talking or acting without regard of Rationality . Usually pejorative, the term is used to describe thinking and actions which are, or appear to be, less useful or logical than the rational alternatives. There is a clear tendency to view our own thoughts, words, and actions as rational and to see Those Who Disagree as irrational.

Types of behavior which are often described as irrational include:

These more contemporary 'normative' conceptions of what constitutes a manifestation of irrationality prove difficult to empirically demonstrate because it is not clear by whose standards we are to judge rational or irrational behaviour.

: Roman Augur s were priests who used Omen s to predict the future. Many Roman writers explain history in terms of these auguries, but modern historians consider belief in auguries to be irrational.]]


WHY DOES IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR OCCUR?


The study of irrational behavior is of interest in fields such as Psychology , Cognitive Science , Economics , Game Theory , and Evolutionary Psychology , as well as of practical interest to the practitioners of Advertising and Propaganda .

Theories of irrational behavior include:
  • people's actual Interests differ from what they Believe to be their interests.

  • mechanisms that have evolved to give optimal behavior in normal conditions lead to irrational behavior in abnormal conditions.

  • In situations outside of one's ordinary circumstances, one may experience Intense Levels of fear, or may regress to a Fight Or Flight mentality.

  • people fail to realize the irrationality of their actions and believe they are acting perfectly rational, possibly due to flaws in their reasoning.

  • apparently irrational decisions are actually optimal, but made Unconsciously on the basis of "hidden" interests that are not known to the conscious Mind

  • an inability to comprehend the social consequences of one's own actions, possibly due in part to a lack of empathy.

  • Some people find themselves in this condition by living "double" lives. They try to put on one "mask" for one group of people and another for a different group of people. Many will become confused as to which they really are or which they wish to become.


Factors which affect rational behavior include:
  • Stress , which in turn may be emotional or physical

  • the introduction of a new or unique situation




IRRATIONALIST


''Irrationalist'' is a wide term. It may be applied to mean ''one without Rationality '', for their beliefs or ideas. Or, more precisely, it may mean someone who rejects some aspect of Rationalism , variously defined. For example Religious Faith may be seen as, in part, a rejection of complete rationalism about the world; this would be contested by some religious thinkers, in that the ''rational'' is a debatable term. On the other hand, it might be considered irrationalist to buy a Lottery Ticket , on the basis that the Expected Value is negative.

Irrational thought was seen in Europe as part of the reaction against Continental Rationalism . For example Hamann is sometimes classified as an irrationalist.


IRRATIONALITY AND LITERATURE

Irrational behaviour has always been a notable target to satirical writers and philosophers.


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