I can think of a few skills that, while not “rationality” in themselves, make it much easier to reason effectively. Numeracy is one. The innumerate can’t really see the difference between a million, a billion, a trillion, and a godzillion.
It helps to have, in memory, a set of references to compare to. For example, there are about a third of a billion people in the United States. Therefore a billion dollars is roughly $3 each, a trillion dollars is roughly $3,000 each, and a million dollars is roughly nothing (.3 cents) each.
A working knowledge of history is also helpful, as is a rough understanding of manufacturing.
I can think of a few skills that, while not “rationality” in themselves, make it much easier to reason effectively. Numeracy is one. The innumerate can’t really see the difference between a million, a billion, a trillion, and a godzillion.
It helps to have, in memory, a set of references to compare to. For example, there are about a third of a billion people in the United States. Therefore a billion dollars is roughly $3 each, a trillion dollars is roughly $3,000 each, and a million dollars is roughly nothing (.3 cents) each.
A working knowledge of history is also helpful, as is a rough understanding of manufacturing.