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Steven Pinker: “Something that’s arbitrary can be highly rational”

Culture
Global
Started October 12, 2026

The cognitive psychologist on violence, the Enlightenment and the reasons we never say what we mean

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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Rationality in human behavior often includes arbitrary choices shaped by social and historical factors.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Rationality can exist in systems or decisions that appear arbitrary to outsiders.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
The acceptance of arbitrary rationality can erode trust in scientific reasoning and objective analysis.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
The relationship between rationality and arbitrariness is often underexplored in public discourse.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Rationality should be based on logical consistency and empirical evidence, rather than arbitrary constructs.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Cultural practices that seem arbitrary can serve rational purposes within their specific contexts.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Claiming that arbitrary choices can be rational undermines the concept of objective truth in decision-making.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Rationality can exist in arbitrary systems, as demonstrated by cultural norms and social conventions.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
Arbitrary decisions can lead to rational outcomes in complex social systems.
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CLAIM Posted by admin • Oct 12, 2026
The perception of rationality is subjective and can vary based on individual perspectives.
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