What is Rationality? A Brief Summary

To answer the question, "What is rationality?" is to embark upon a journey into the very faculty of the mind for which human beings are distinguished from all other creatures on Earth.

It has been the basis for much of our philosophical, political, social, and economic institutions throughout the world, but particularly of interest in the West. Much has been said on the faculty of rationality in all of history; and it has been given unique status amongst men as the guiding light of our spiritual, mental, and social endeavors.

To successfully define "rationality" we must distinguish it from what it is not, and separate it from common terminology for what it means to be rational. When we say someone is acting rationally, it means they are employing their faculty of reason towards the world of objects.

To employ reason specifically means to work within the limits and foundations of a structure of the brain that aides us in willing particular actions be done, typically when there are multiple paths to be chosen from. To act "rationally" then is to employ one's rational faculty of mind to any given situation in order to induce the best possible outcome for any given stimuli or interest for which that rational actor may desire or wish to pursue. Thus, from this standpoint, rationality can be thought of as a conditional:

"If A, then B."

For instance, "If I want to lose weight, then I must not eat foods high in saturated fat." This is but a simple example demonstrating rational thinking in terms of contemplating possible means to potential (subjective) ends.

A more detailed version of how this plays out in our mind, though we are not really conscious of this, is as follows:

1. I want to lose weight (my end)
2. I recognize that to lose weight, it is best to avoid foods high in saturated fat.
3. Therefore, if I want to lose weight, then I must avoid foods high in saturated fat;

conversely, my other options which, if the actor is otherwise acting rationally, would have to consider:

1. I am trying to loose weight (my end)
2. I am presented with a choice between two varying interests and ends:
a. I want to eat cheese-cake (eating cheese-cake gives me great pleasure).
b. I want to to lose weight
3. I realize that in order to lose weight, I have to avoid foods high in saturated fats (such as cheese-cake).
a. In comparing my options for two choices, I must weigh my desires for cheese-cake versus those inclinations for losing weight.
b. If losing weight is more desirable in the long run, and is indeed a greater desire than the joy of cheese-cake,
4. I abstain from eating cheese-cake because I value my desire to lose weight more than the desire for eating cheese-cake.

This is still a simple conditional, but more in tune with everyday experiences in its form. This is not the only component of rationality, but a very basic and generalized understanding of rationality as it pertains to our willing of actions based on empirical desires. Thus, in terms of actions, rationality is what brings about consistency between actions and desired ends.