How would you define rationality, generally speaking?
“Rationality is ordering our world based on reason; using observable facts and logical reasoning to reach objective conclusions; usually connotes the ideas of being reasonable, sensible, sane, and systematic; in modern organizational life, epitomized by bureaucracy (Cheney, page 71).”
“In the most general terms, rationality is descriptive of mental processes which consciously strive to master reality (Redmond, page 173).” Progress is something made when using rationality for ways of doing life tasks such as work, business, raising a family, and planning leisure time. Rationality implies that people can reflect on what they’re doing, thinking, and feeling in their daily lives. People use rationality when making plans in life on different paths to accomplish goals. Goals are important way of living a meaningful and rational life. People in our society want to be viewed by others as being rational because they want to be successful and accepted. “You should be rational because of who and what you are. You should be rational because you expect reasons, are disappointed when they are not provided, refuse to accept conclusions that are properly supported (Fennell, page 171).” When in an argument with someone one of the strongest come backs is to state that the other is “irrational.” An individuals thought of being rational is not a goal but rather an attitude, preference, political view, and historical trend in life.
Rationality has been a Western philosophical concept since Aristotle. Aristotle focused on the rational side of a human’s actions. His main rhetorical theory included both rational and intuitive thinking.
Social psychologist Karl Weick tells us that we do not approach situations in the best state of mind possible but more than not take action and then step back to rationalize. This way of doing things is not the best decision making process. This sort of reaction is normal and the first thought of. Overall, we are rational human beings just as long as we present ourselves in that way to others.
In other countries such as Latin American ones rationality is viewed and used differently when making decisions, selecting personnel, and accomplishing tasks in everyday situations they follow a way of life called palanca. This term is a concept that highlights interdependence of people and the fact that they need each other to work and live. It is more of an involved culture where people help people and are there for one another. Rationality is a relative matter where people can learn positive and negative aspects of other cultures in conversation and interaction with people.
“If rationality is an inherent part of “who we are,” why we do work so hard to present ourselves to others as highly rational? And if rationality is so natural, why must it be encouraged, cultivated, and promoted? The answer is that we are partially rational, in the usual sense of that word (Cheney, page 52).” Being rational is a part of our lives and organizations that is significant. “Sanity is an illness and rationality a disease (Sanjay Singh http://www.zaadz.com/quotes/authors/sanjay_singh/).” This quote is an analogy of how rationality is observed. Rationality is a living function that can be impaired like a disease, but being sane is a healthy or unhealthy condition of the mind. As Hal Walls said, “trust your instincts and develop your intuition; they can become efficient tools in your decision-making process (Walls, page 18).”
Bibliography
Fennell, John M. (2003). “Can Rationality Justify itself?” Philosophy of Education Yearbook. V. 35, No. 4, pg. 178-180.
Redmond, William H. (Mar. 2004). “On Institutional Rationality.” Journal of Economic Issues. V. 38, No. 1, pg. 173-188.
Walls, Hal. (Dec. 2002). “The Myth of Rationality.” IIIE Solutions. V. 34, No. 12, pg. 18.
3 Hyperlinks
Rationality and Cultural Differences
http://www.univie.ac.at/Wissenschaftstheorie/srb/srb/rationality.html
Rationality
http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/index.html?http://www.importanceofphilosophy.com/Ethics_Rationality.html
Historicist Theories of Rationality
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rationality-historicist/
The Rationality of Paradise
http://www.acquaye.de/update2004/The-Rationality-of-Parklein.jpg
http://www.booksbywrfarrell.com/Aristotle.jpg
