In addition, there are issues where it is not possible to be rational. In choosing goals, one cannot always be rational: the emotional response decides the goal. One can be rational in choosing ways of achieving that goal, or in making the map fit the territory.
EDIT: As I have been voted down, I will provide an example. I am transsexual. I decided it was “rational” to attempt to live as a man, and arguably it is: and yet I could not, and the most important thing for me was to change my presentation. I cannot assess that goal “rationally”: it means I cannot reproduce, it makes it more likely for me to be seen as a weirdo, it has been terribly difficult to achieve. And yet it was the most important thing in my life.
I’m not sure that your goal was irrational. You say that it had certain disadvantages (e.g. not being able to reproduce, being seen as a weirdo, being difficult...). You also say that it was the most important thing in your life.
Even though that calculation is probably very emotionally complex, it seems like your decision was the rational one, if those were indeed the pros and cons.
And I agree with you that we cannot always rationally choose goals. Some of our goals (even including rational goals such as truth-seeking) are hardwired by evolution, prenatal development, or formative experiences and are difficult to change.
For example, I have a major sweet tooth. This pushes me towards a goal of eating lots of sugar, which is not a predisposition that I would necessarily choose (at least, not so strongly), if I had a choice over what food my body likes.
As Aristotle would say, your emotions are an important part of rationality. A virtuous person feels the right emotion in response to events, and can simply ‘follow his gut’ to do what’s right.
Which is why it’s important to follow moral exemplars and build virtue—to make sure you have good character before you make a life-changing, irreversible decision.
In addition, there are issues where it is not possible to be rational. In choosing goals, one cannot always be rational: the emotional response decides the goal. One can be rational in choosing ways of achieving that goal, or in making the map fit the territory.
EDIT: As I have been voted down, I will provide an example. I am transsexual. I decided it was “rational” to attempt to live as a man, and arguably it is: and yet I could not, and the most important thing for me was to change my presentation. I cannot assess that goal “rationally”: it means I cannot reproduce, it makes it more likely for me to be seen as a weirdo, it has been terribly difficult to achieve. And yet it was the most important thing in my life.
abigailgem,
I’m not sure that your goal was irrational. You say that it had certain disadvantages (e.g. not being able to reproduce, being seen as a weirdo, being difficult...). You also say that it was the most important thing in your life.
Even though that calculation is probably very emotionally complex, it seems like your decision was the rational one, if those were indeed the pros and cons.
And I agree with you that we cannot always rationally choose goals. Some of our goals (even including rational goals such as truth-seeking) are hardwired by evolution, prenatal development, or formative experiences and are difficult to change.
For example, I have a major sweet tooth. This pushes me towards a goal of eating lots of sugar, which is not a predisposition that I would necessarily choose (at least, not so strongly), if I had a choice over what food my body likes.
As Aristotle would say, your emotions are an important part of rationality. A virtuous person feels the right emotion in response to events, and can simply ‘follow his gut’ to do what’s right.
Which is why it’s important to follow moral exemplars and build virtue—to make sure you have good character before you make a life-changing, irreversible decision.