Is rationality overrated?

[patrickt]

Emotions may rule in the immediate sense, but if a person normally handles things rationally, the emotions only come into play for a very short period of time before being over-ridden.

Applying logic and rationality will normally come quickly for those who are used to applying it. For those who function on emotions, logic and rationality aren't on their radar....

Unless the emotion leads you to make a decision with lasting consequences. How many friends have you had marry total twits? An acquaintance was engaged to marry a man who worked for me. I told her he was an alcoholic, a compulsive liar, a deadbeat who didn't pay bills, and he'd screw any woman who would let him. She raged that all her friends said things like that and we were all wrong. They married. Eight years later they were divorcing and she was complaining about all the things she'd been warned about.

A friend of me emailed me about the "love of her life". He was wonderful and the only problem was she didn't have enough income to support him, his mother, his son, the son's girlfriend, and the four dogs.

"Doesn't he work?"
"Well, he had a job in a bar but his parole officer wouldn't let him work there so all he has is SSI."
"Parole? He's a convicted felon. SSI? What's his disability?"
"It's mental and as for his conviction, it was all a mistake."

That one ended when the "mistake" took her for $57,000 and then sued her for domestic dissolution. The SOB wanted maintenance, what they now call alimony.

One should never make decisions emotionally. When I get angry I walk away until I calm down and can think rationally. Fortunately, I rarely get angry.

[patrickt]

Being rational can be overrated depending on the circumstance

Can you give me an example of such a circumstance? I really can't think of one.

[patrickt]

It is if you're Donald Trump!

I'm assuming that was an emotional response and wasn't intended to be rational.

[Peter1469]

Unless the emotion leads you to make a decision with lasting consequences. How many friends have you had marry total twits? An acquaintance was engaged to marry a man who worked for me. I told her he was an alcoholic, a compulsive liar, a deadbeat who didn't pay bills, and he'd screw any woman who would let him. She raged that all her friends said things like that and we were all wrong. They married. Eight years later they were divorcing and she was complaining about all the things she'd been warned about.

A friend of me emailed me about the "love of her life". He was wonderful and the only problem was she didn't have enough income to support him, his mother, his son, the son's girlfriend, and the four dogs.

"Doesn't he work?"
"Well, he had a job in a bar but his parole officer wouldn't let him work there so all he has is SSI."
"Parole? He's a convicted felon. SSI? What's his disability?"
"It's mental and as for his conviction, it was all a mistake."

That one ended when the "mistake" took her for $57,000 and then sued her for domestic dissolution. The SOB wanted maintenance, what they now call alimony.

One should never make decisions emotionally. When I get angry I walk away until I calm down and can think rationally. Fortunately, I rarely get angry.

A lot of people will not listen to reason from friends. A great friend of mine from law school had that problem. I kept telling her that her current man choice was not good. Time after time I had to help her when these relationships went bust. In 2002 I went to her Halloween party and she introduced me to her current b/f. After 5 minutes I pulled her to the side and said this guy is a tool. She laughed it off. Fast forward several years. She met a guy who was FBI hostage rescue (equivalent to First Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta). At this time she was on the National Security Council (Big in the news these days). She had me meet them for dinner before she got serious with this guy. After, I told her he is a solid man. They are now married and have a great son. And at their wedding in Scotland, I bested this Hostage Rescue elite type at shooting a series of clay pigeons. Barely, but it was a win. She is an SIS in the CIA.

[Chris]

To me one of the best examples of rational thinking gone awry is socialism. What man imagines possible and defends rationally is not always what works.

[skepticalmike]

To me one of the best examples of rational thinking gone awry is socialism. What man imagines possible and defends rationally is not always what works.

From the definitions given in the OP, I would say that socialism or left wing politics represents a lack of rationality and a bias towards reasonableness because the adherents base their political

philosophy on kindness and emotions rather than cold logic. That is especially true if we substitute social democracy for socialism. People on the far right are often so caught up in cold logic and ideology

that they are not open to anything that conflicts with their idealogy even if it is very reasonable.

[skepticalmike]

Can you give me an example of such a circumstance? I really can't think of one.

Being too rational could lead one to unhappiness, loneliness, and injury to others. It would make life very difficult for a teenager or young adult. Without emotions and some degree of

emotionally clouded judgement life would not be worth living.

It is only in the realm of science that one needs to be rational.

[Chris]

From the definitions given in the OP, I would say that socialism or left wing politics represents a lack of rationality and a bias towards reasonableness because the adherents base their political

philosophy on kindness and emotions rather than cold logic. That is especially true if we substitute social democracy for socialism. People on the far right are often so caught up in cold logic and ideology

that they are not open to anything that conflicts with their idealogy even if it is very reasonable.

That would be a case of emotions biasing one's rationality. The liberal's emotional appeal blinds him to the fact handouts don't work long-term and the conservative's unemotional appeal blinds him to the fact handouts might work short-term.