Rationality: meaning, definitions and examples

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rationality

[ˌraʃəˈnalədē ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

critical thinking

Rationality refers to the quality or state of being rational, which involves using logic and reason to make decisions and form beliefs.

Synonyms

logic, reason, soundness.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rationality	Used to describe the quality of being reasonable, based on facts or reason. Often used in philosophical, psychological, or decision-making scenarios. Her rationality helped her make clear and effective decisions. The philosopher debated the limits of human rationality.
logic	Often used in contexts involving mathematics, computer science, or structured thinking. It refers to a systematic way of reasoning. Programming requires a strong understanding of logic. His argument was flawed because it lacked internal logic.
reason	Refers to a cause or explanation for something. It can also mean the power of the mind to think and understand in a logical way. Commonly used in everyday conversation. There must be a good reason why he is late. She used reason to solve the problem instead of relying on emotions.
soundness	Typically used to describe the validity or reliability of an argument, plan, or construction. Often found in academic, financial, or engineering discussions. The soundness of the financial plan was questioned by the investors. Engineers checked the soundness of the bridge.

Examples of usage

Her rationality allowed her to approach problems with a clear and logical mindset.
Rationality is essential in making informed choices based on evidence and sound reasoning.
Impulsive decisions often lack rationality and may lead to regret later on.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

economics

In economics, rationality is the assumption that individuals will make decisions based on maximizing their own self-interest.

Synonyms

self-interest maximization.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rationality	It is used to describe the quality of being based on or in accordance with reason or logic. Often used in discussions about decision-making, behavior, or arguments where logical thinking is important. His rationality was evident in the way he calculated the risks before making a decision. The scientist's approach was marked by a high level of rationality.
self-interest maximization	This phrase is used in economic or philosophical discussions to describe actions driven purely by the aim to benefit oneself as much as possible. It is often used when discussing theories that assume people act in ways to maximize their own benefit, sometimes perceived with a negative connotation. In his business, every decision was guided by self-interest maximization, ensuring he always got the best deal. Critics argue that self-interest maximization can lead to unethical behavior.

Word

Description / Examples

rationality

It is used to describe the quality of being based on or in accordance with reason or logic. Often used in discussions about decision-making, behavior, or arguments where logical thinking is important.

His rationality was evident in the way he calculated the risks before making a decision.
The scientist's approach was marked by a high level of rationality.

self-interest maximization

This phrase is used in economic or philosophical discussions to describe actions driven purely by the aim to benefit oneself as much as possible. It is often used when discussing theories that assume people act in ways to maximize their own benefit, sometimes perceived with a negative connotation.

In his business, every decision was guided by self-interest maximization, ensuring he always got the best deal.
Critics argue that self-interest maximization can lead to unethical behavior.

Examples of usage

The concept of rationality in economics helps to predict how individuals will behave in certain situations.
Rationality plays a key role in understanding consumer behavior and market dynamics.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'rationalis', meaning 'of or belonging to reason'.
In the 19th century, the term started to gain popularity in philosophical debates about human thought.

Psychology

Psychologists study rationality to understand how people make decisions and solve problems.
Cognitive biases can affect rational thinking, leading individuals to make illogical decisions even when they have all the facts.

Philosophy

Philosophers like Immanuel Kant argued that rationality is central to morality and ethical behavior.
The concept has been essential in discussions about human behavior, ethics, and what it means to be rational.

Science

Rationality also plays a key role in scientific reasoning, guiding the formation of hypotheses and testing.
In economics, the concept of 'bounded rationality' acknowledges that people often make decisions with limited information and time.

Pop Culture

Rationality has been explored in various films and books, often contrasting emotional decisions with logical ones.
Characters in stories like Sherlock Holmes exemplify extreme rationality, solving mysteries through deduction and logic.

Translations

Translations of the word "rationality" in other languages:

🇵🇹 racionalidade

🇮🇳 तर्कसंगतता

🇩🇪 Rationalität

🇮🇩 rasionalitas

🇺🇦 раціональність

🇵🇱 racjonalność

🇯🇵 合理性 (ごうりせい)

🇫🇷 rationalité

🇪🇸 racionalidad

🇹🇷 rasyonellik

🇰🇷 합리성 (합리성)

🇸🇦 عقلانية

🇨🇿 racionalita

🇸🇰 racionalita

🇨🇳 理性 (lǐxìng)

🇸🇮 racionalnost

🇮🇸 skynsemi

🇰🇿 рационалдық

🇬🇪 რაციონალურობა

🇦🇿 rasionallıq

🇲🇽 racionalidad

Word Frequency Rank

Position #9,995 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

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9992 comb
9993 aristocratic
9994 frog
9995 rationality
9996 enclosing
9997 annoyed
9998 necessitated
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