RE: Tracking Down Pseudoscience - Part 3
"we are not creatures of reason; instead we're creatures of rationalization"
Not accurate. We are creatures capable of reason and rationalization. Otherwise, we would not even be capable of reasoning. To say we are not creatures of reason is a fallacy. The words reason and rational are synonyms. There is positive rationality to objectively discern reality, reason, and negative rationalization to justify irrational thinking.
Rational
late 14c., “pertaining to reason;” mid-15c., “endowed with reason,” from ratio (genitive rationis) “reckoning, calculation, reason”
Reason
c.1200, “intellectual faculty that adopts actions to ends,” also “statement in an argument, statement of explanation or justification,” Old French raison “course; matter; subject; language, speech; thought, opinion,” from Latin rationem (nominative ratio) “reckoning, understanding, motive, cause,” from PIE root *re(i)- “to reason, count”
Good points overall. Take care. Peace. Upped.
you get my point: our tendency is to rationalize. it takes effort to engage in good thinking.