Rationality’s Janus-like Nature

Abstract

The writings of Bentham and Machiavelli discussed in the previous chapter constitute integral parts of the rational choice cannon. These works strongly influenced the way in which many social scientists understood the nature of rationality. Among these disciplines, economics was the first to feel its influence and it was also the field that felt its impact more than others. Subsequently, economics played a key role in introducing utilitarian principles to the other social sciences. As a result, its biases tinted the lenses through which these disciplines understood rationality. Rational beings were ones who pursued material or other tangible rewards and endeavored to eschew material or tangible sanctions. This trajectory of this intellectual transmission significantly impacted the manner in which nationalism scholars perceived rationality. Such a limited view of rationality was encouraged by a deeply entrenched presumption that our so-called emotive and rational thinking processes were totally distinct.