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    Can Men Be Rational

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    Abaid Ullah
    Russell defines rationality as taking into account all relevant evidence when arriving at a belief, while keeping alternative opinions in mind. Irrationality means disbelief in objective facts arising from desires to assert unsupported beliefs or deny evidence. Psychoanalysis can cultivate rationalism by helping people see themselves as others do and training them in scientific thinking. Complete rationality is ideal but attainable to a fair degree, as rational control of desires by intelligence is important for progress and harm prevention given modern means of harming others. At present, forces like education, media, politics and religion promote irrationality, so intelligence must provide solutions to world problems through more rational and balanced views. Russell opposes holding beliefs without grounds and advocates rationalism to

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    Can Men Be Rational

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    Abaid Ullah
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    Russell defines rationality as taking into account all relevant evidence when arriving at a belief, while keeping alternative opinions in mind. Irrationality means disbelief in objective facts arising from desires to assert unsupported beliefs or deny evidence. Psychoanalysis can cultivate rationalism by helping people see themselves as others do and training them in scientific thinking. Complete rationality is ideal but attainable to a fair degree, as rational control of desires by intelligence is important for progress and harm prevention given modern means of harming others. At present, forces like education, media, politics and religion promote irrationality, so intelligence must provide solutions to world problems through more rational and balanced views. Russell opposes holding beliefs without grounds and advocates rationalism to

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    Russell defines rationality as taking into account all relevant evidence when arriving at a belief, while keeping alternative opinions in mind. Irrationality means disbelief in objective facts arising from desires to assert unsupported beliefs or deny evidence. Psychoanalysis can cultivate rationalism by helping people see themselves as others do and training them in scientific thinking. Complete rationality is ideal but attainable to a fair degree, as rational control of desires by intelligence is important for progress and harm prevention given modern means of harming others. At present, forces like education, media, politics and religion promote irrationality, so intelligence must provide solutions to world problems through more rational and balanced views. Russell opposes holding beliefs without grounds and advocates rationalism to

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    249 views2 pages

    Can Men Be Rational

    Uploaded by

    Abaid Ullah
    Russell defines rationality as taking into account all relevant evidence when arriving at a belief, while keeping alternative opinions in mind. Irrationality means disbelief in objective facts arising from desires to assert unsupported beliefs or deny evidence. Psychoanalysis can cultivate rationalism by helping people see themselves as others do and training them in scientific thinking. Complete rationality is ideal but attainable to a fair degree, as rational control of desires by intelligence is important for progress and harm prevention given modern means of harming others. At present, forces like education, media, politics and religion promote irrationality, so intelligence must provide solutions to world problems through more rational and balanced views. Russell opposes holding beliefs without grounds and advocates rationalism to

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    Can Men Be Rational?

    The meaning of rationality


    This essay begins with Russell declaring himself to be a Rationalist. He
    defines rationality in his opinion as the habit of taking account of all relevant
    evidence in arriving at a belief. Where certainty is not possible a rational man
    will attach the greatest importance to the most probable opinion, while keeping
    other opinions in his mind as alternatives which subsequent evidence may
    show to be preferable.

    The meaning of irrationality


    Irrationality means disbelief in objective facts. It arises mostly from the desire
    to assert something for which there is no evidence, or from the desire to deny
    something for which there is sufficient evidence.

    The usefulness of psycho analysis


    Psycho-analysis can prove very useful in the cultivation of rationalism.
    Psycho-analysis provides a technique by which we are enabled to see
    ourselves as others see us. Combined with a training in the scientific outlook,
    this method could help people to become much more rational than they are at
    present regarding their beliefs about matters of fact and about the probable
    effects of any proposed action.

    The need of rationality in human life


    Complete rationality is undoubtedly an ideal that cannot be achieved.
    However, it is possible to attain a fair degree of rationality. All solid progress in
    the world consists of an increase in rationality, both practical and theoretical. A
    man is rational in proportion as his intelligence determines and controls his
    desires. The control of our actions by our intelligence is ultimately of the
    utmost importance, especially because science has increased the means at
    our disposal for harming each other. At present all the great forces in the
    world—education, the press, politics, religion—are on the side of irrationality. It
    is to intelligence that we must look for the solution of the ills from which our
    world is suffering. A more sane and balanced view of our relations with our
    neighbours and with the world is urgently necessary.

    Critical comments
    Thus in this essay Russell opposes people’s tendency to hold beliefs for which
    there are no grounds. Blind faith and prejudices belong to this category,
    especially where ideas about our religion and our country are concerned.
    Rationalism is a means whereby harmony in social and international relations
    can be promoted. Nor can any enlightened man of today quarrel with Russell’s
    thesis. Orthodox religious persons will, however, never allow their beliefs to be
    subjected to the test of rationalism.

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