Abstract
This paper examines the concept of anti-rationalism versus rationalism. It specifically critiques the views of Plato, Descartes, Hume and Nietzsche. It discusses their views and the deductions they make according to their philosophies, as well as the restrictions that each of the philosophic systems place on their followers.

From the Paper
"Reason, despite both sides of the rationalist/anti-rationalist argument, has its boundaries. Being a philosopher, I am very inclined to the pursuit of the acculturation of knowledge and the way that it helps me view and guide myself through life. Reason, however, seems to be a bit displaced at some points in defining philosophic systems of ontology. It seems to me that reason can be used to decipher the pieces of the puzzle--to give an outline of the painting of life. Many scholars have had visions and other non-rational occurrences that defined the way they thought about life. Reason does not play a role here. Reason has a hard enough time dealing with the complex idioms as to why people do the things they do, much less figure out the cosmological vibrations of religions, sexualities, and spiritualities. Despite the onset of reason, there is still feeling, emotion, and connection that cannot be rationally explained to someone who has not felt it before."

Tags:understanding, ontology, boundaries

Abstract
The paper shows that 'Rationality' is often assumed to be a desirable value by virtually all individuals who engage in business management decision-making. Or, perhaps a better way of phrasing this prioritization of the value of rational thinking and organization is to say that for a manager or a business to be called "irrational" would be a profound insult to his or her competence. The paper discusses how a better understanding of rationality functions as an organizing principle within human relationships in the context of organizations, requires a more nuanced understanding of rationality. It compares two pioneers of organizational theory, Max Weber and H. A. Simon.

From the Paper
"The best way to deal with the complexity of modern life Weber stated, was the proliferation of legal-rational bureaucratic organizations. The key to Weber's theory was that his designed structure could enable managers to standardize coordinated responses between individuals and individual units of workers, and not simply standardize specific production and operations. Weber suggested that the best way to manage a business or institution was to institute structural coordination controls through centralized, hierarchical, and highly departmentalized structures."

Tags:supervisor, red, tape, Structural, arrangements, Efficiency

Abstract
This paper argues that Thomas Hobbes believes that government is necessary in order to make morality individually rational. This argument is carried out by looking at the distinction between individual rationality and collective rationality (morality). The tension between these two concept is illustrated by the prisoner's dilemma thinking exercise. Drawing on the evidence of the prisoner's dilemma, the paper then explains how government makes it rational for people to be moral. Lastly, the paper briefly compares Hobbes' view with Kant's view of morality.

From the Paper
"Like individual rationality, collective rationality is also based on the natural right and desire of self-preservation. As the name entails, collective rationality is the exercise of reason to discover what is in the best interest of all. Three laws of nature are found by collective reasoning. Firstly, because survival is much easier in conditions of peace rather than in war, every one is to "seek peace, and follow it" (Hobbes, 404) unless there is a need for defense. Secondly, to foster peace, individuals have to surrender their rights to all things and "be contented with so much liberty against [others], as [they] would allow [others] against [themselves]" (Hobbes, 405)."

Tags:justice, Golden, Rule, preservation

Abstract
In this analysis, the writer explores Immanuel Kant's notion of epistemology and looks at the debate between empiricism and rationalism closely. Further, outside representations of theories such as Hume's causality are also commented upon. Finally, a synopsis is presented of the debate itself and the progression of thought that occurred with Immanuel Kant. The writer maintains that even today, Kant's epistemology would spark great debate among the foremost religious scholars, scientists, and philosophers. The writer concludes that if there truly is an answer, this view would suggest that it lies in the duality between both empiricism and rationalism.

From the Paper
"The notion of duality has been represented throughout the dawn of time in many aspects. Nature versus nurture, church versus state, and empiricism versus rationalism can all be depicted in many situations. As fundamental and concrete as one side or another may seem, truth has usually be captured in the middle of the debate. Immanuel Kant has been regarded by his peers as one of the greatest thinkers of the era. Kant spent a great deal of time juxtaposing both empiricism and rationalism with ideas that stemmed from his own epistemological viewpoints. It was this perception that Kant discounted Descartes, Locke, and others with theories that represented a natural duality that could not be accessed by contemplation or experiences, and added another layer of truth to the controversy between the two outlooks."

Tags:theories, knowledge, assumption, perceptions

Abstract
This paper looks at the theological debate within Islam over the problem of the creation of the Qur'an. The writer discusses that this issue has sometimes been viewed as a conflict between reason and rationalism as represented by Mu'tazilite thought and traditional orthodoxy as represented by the Hanbalite school of thought. This essay examines the main points of disagreement.

From the Paper
"The theological debate within Islam over the problem of the creation of the Qur'an has sometimes been represented as a conflict between reason and rationalism (as represented by Mu'tazilite thought) and traditional orthodoxy (as represented by the Hanbalite school of thought). While this generalization has some points of validity, it does not capture the full complexity of the debate over the creation of the Qur'an, nor the significant implications of this difference for how Muslims understand the existence of God and his role in their daily lives."

Tags:islam, reason, history

Abstract
This paper explains Descartes's philosophy of the human mind and how his philosophy, which contends that the real self is based not in the nature of the material body but rather in the essence of thought, differs from empiricism, which contends that the mind is informed by experience in a learning process that is based on sensation and cognition. The paper concludes with the author offering his personal perspective of Descartes's rationalism and whether it is applicable to his life and experiences.

From the Paper
"Empiricism focuses on the perceived fact that synthetic theories are only possible through experience and are therefore also subject to doubt, since experiences can be illusory or deceptive. This essential doubt is also something that is recognized by rationalists like Descartes, who then categorized the doubt as the mutability and fallibility of the senses. In terms of the absolutism of mind/body distinctions, empiricists are more hesitant to ascribe the realm of theory or logic to the formation of any truth that could be seen to be absolute and unquestioned such as reason or the power of deduction. Some criticize rationalism for assuming that only self-directed introspection can truly decipher reality in any productive or reasonable way. Descartes' rationalism led to further theories by Kant and others. Most social theories are given some context epistemologically, even those that seek to synthesize and combine different aspects of rationalism and empiricism. The two theories are often seen to be philosophical absolutes in and of themselves in their respective relations to the human mind as a separate and holistic entity in its relationship to the body."

Tags:relationship, utilitarian, preexistence, innate, qualities, conventional, logic, reason

Abstract
The paper examines the rationality of the main character, Alymer, in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Birthmark", and shows how he is perfectly normal and rational at the start of the story. The paper then describes how his rationality is replaced by an irrational obsession that engulfs his science, his marriage, and his life. The paper shows how not only does Hawthorne shock and frighten his audience, but he is also warning against the dangers of extremism.

From the Paper
"In the first sentence of Hawthorne's work, the rationality of the main character is established as a characteristic that will follow Alymer throughout the story's events. Georgiana's husband is first referenced as "a man of science, an eminent proficient in every branch of natural philosophy" (Hawthorne para. 1). While these connotations certainly seem to suggest rationality on his part, they are overshadowed by the second sentence, in which the narrator writes that the scientist was recently married to one of his assistants. Although this may seem to be irrational, in light with the natural order of things, his action here is perhaps the most rational of all. Even Alymer's dissatisfaction with his wife's birthmark can be considered rational, as the narrator makes clear it was the opinion of many men (Hawthorne para. 7). Thus, Alymer begins the story as a rational, if a bit eccentric, scientist and young husband."

Tags:extremes, madness, obsession

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine Max Weber's sociological theory of rationality and ideal types and the use of that theory as it applies to Weber's sociology of law. The plan of the research will be to set forth in general terms Weber's approach to social theory, and then to see whether and to what extent it is useful in explaining ambiguous social phenomena, particularly those that give rise to questions about the sociology of the legal system. To this end, reference will be made to certain legal ambiguities raised by illustrative cases.

No discussion of Weber's theory of the sociology of law would be complete without reference to his social theory in general and his multifaceted treatment of rationality in particular. Indeed, his treatments of society, rationality, and law persistently overlap and converge; Weber's thought is ..."

Abstract
This paper is based on "The Prisoner's Dilemma" as an example of a paradox defined by the author as a problem requiring attention to key issues in contrast to what logicians or other proponents of rational decision making presume. The paper provides a careful explanation of what a paradox is in relation to Sainsbury, addresses possible solutions to the prisoner's dilemma and offers a conclusion stressing the eventual need for a decision.

From the Paper
"The provided version of the prisoner's dilemma involves two persons arrested for drug running and detained separately who must choose whether to say nothing, in which case both persons will spend a year in prison, or if both confess to the crime, five years in prison. If one confesses, he will serve five years but the other will be freed. Both persons are aware of the same outcomes and must decide individually what to argue. According to models of rational action, both parties will consider remaining silent, the choice of the other person none of their concern and as both know that..."

Tags:sainsbury, paradoxes, rationality

Abstract
This paper examines two of the systematic mistakes that humans tend to make when they make decisions that they are likely to consider to be rational. These include mistakes or inclinations toward both pessimistic and optimistic biases.

From the Paper
"Except, of course, that we're not. But it is true that humans are relatively bad at purely rational thinking. This should not perhaps be surprising to us: We are not, after all, computers, which are far better than are humans at making rational decisions and providing rational calculations about situations. This is not entirely a bad thing: Humans have apparently (though the process of evolution) sacrificed the ability to make perfectly rational calculations for the ability to excel at what those who are trying to teach computers to think like humans call fuzzy thinking. We are good, for example, at being able to read another person's internal emotional state by the tilt of their eyebrows but we are relatively bad at calculating the odds of whether to take another card in blackjack to the unending enrichment of the Las Vegas casinos."

Tags:fuzzy, thinking, computers, systematic, way, availability, error, irrationality, assessment, innumerates