What has rationalism ever given us?

[Triple Zero]

As a matter of fact, many of the critical elements that go into a model of rational behavior  can be identified with particular types of rationality or irrationality. The value system, the communication system, the information system, the collective decision process, or a parameter representing the probability of error or loss of control, can be viewed as an effort to formalize the study of "irrationality."  Hitler, the French Parliament, the commander of a bomber, the radar operators at Pearl Harbor, Khrushchev, and the American electorate may all suffer from some kinds of "irrationality," but by no means the same kinds. Some of them can be accounted for within a theory of rational behavior. (Even the neurotic, with inconsistent values and no method of reconciling them, motivated to suppress rather than to reconcile his conflicting goals, may for some purposes be viewed as a pair of "rational" entities with distinct value systems, reaching collectivedecisions through a voting process that has some haphazard or random element, asymmetrical communications, and so forth.) 

The apparent restrictiveness of an assumption of "rational" behavior -- of a calculating, value-maximizing strategy of decision -- is mitigated by two additional observations. One, which I can only allege at second hand, is that even among the emotionally unbalanced, among the certified "irrationals," there is often observed an intuitive appreciation of the principles of strategy, or at least of particular applications of them. I am told that inmates of mental hospitals often seem to cultivate, deliberately or instinctively, value systems that make them less susceptible to disciplinary threats and more capable of exercising coercion themselves. A careless or even self-destructive attitude toward injury -- "I'll cut a vein in my arm if you don't let me . . ." -- can be a genuine strategic advantage; so can a cultivated inability to hear or to comprehend, or a reputation for frequent lapses of self-control that make punitive threats ineffectual as deterrents. (Again I am reminded of my children.) As a matter of fact, one of the advantages of an explicit theory of "rational" strategic decision in situations of mixed conflict and common interest is that, by showing the strategic basis of certain paradoxical tactics, it can display how sound and rational some of the tactics are that are practiced by the untutored and the infirm. It may not be an exaggeration to say that our sophistication sometimes suppresses sound intuitions, and one of the effects of an explicit theory may  be to restore some intuitive notions that were only superficially "irrational."

IN.

YOUR.

FACE.

Another part is being seemingly irrational and unpredictable in order to veil your rational process, which can give you an edge in the "but what if he expects me to want to figure out what he thinks I will do to try and play against what he wants me to think will be his next move" minimax game.

[The Johnny]

It has given us rationalization!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalization_%28sociology%29

In sociology, rationalization refers to the replacement of traditions, values, and emotions as motivators for behavior in society with rational, calculated ones. For example, the implementation of bureaucracies in government is a kind of rationalization, as is the construction of high-efficiency living spaces in architecture and urban planning.

BUREOCRACY, BUREOCRACY EVERYWHERE!

I'm afraid I'm going to have to insist that you correct the spelling in the above post and submit it, in triplicate, to the relevant departments, before we can approve it for inclusion in the forum

ILL TRIPLICATE YOUR FACEEEEE 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

1.  Acid rain.
2.  Atomic bombs.
3.  PD.com (along with all the other rancid shit on the interbutts).

I say it's time for a little IRRATIONALISM, because the only way to fight bullshit is WITH BULLSHIT...And Discordianism is the BEST BULLSHIT that money CAN'T buy.

So all you Voltaire fans out there can just SHUT UP and GET IN THE BACK OF THE VAN ON THE BUS.

I am in FAVOR and I TRY IT but people just don't get it.

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

It may not be an exaggeration to say that our sophistication sometimes suppresses sound intuitions, and one of the effects of an explicit theory may be to restore some intuitive notions that were only superficially "irrational."

I rebut this argument via the apple juice hypothesis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWq56gcbOi8&NR