Rationalization - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Rationalization, often lurking under the guises of justification or excuse-making, is the art and science of constructing seemingly logical explanations for actions or beliefs that originate from other, perhaps less palatable, sources. What if the reasons we consciously give for our choices are merely elegant afterthoughts?
The historical roots of rationalization, while not explicitly labeled as such until the advent of modern psychology, can be traced back through centuries of philosophical inquiry. Consider the dialogues of Socrates, relentlessly questioning the purported wisdom of Athenian society, revealing that many held beliefs without genuine reason, propped up by convenient stories. We see it too in Machiavelli's The Prince whose realism and pragmatism in the world of political power have been interpreted as an endorsement of rationalization in the service of a goal. These early stirrings challenge us to ask: are our convictions truly reasoned, or cleverly rationalized desires?
The concept gained formal recognition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, greatly influenced by thinkers like Friedrich Nietzsche and, most notably, Sigmund Freud. Freud saw rationalization as an ego defense mechanism, shielding the conscious mind from uncomfortable truths by inventing socially acceptable reasons for unacceptable behavior. This interpretation evolved throughout the 20th century, influencing fields from sociology to marketing, where understanding consumers' rationalizations became key to manipulating their behavior. Are we, then, merely puppets of our subconscious, skillfully justifying our strings? Many people are introduced to the concept of cognitive dissonance in the Wason Test where they discover rationalization is a common way of explaining discrepancies between expectations and outcomes.Today, rationalization permeates various aspects of modern life. From political discourse, where policies are spun to align with popular sentiment, to personal relationships, where we concoct narratives to excuse our shortcomings, rationalization remains a potent force. Simultaneously, there is the moral philosophy of Peter Singer with his advocacy of utilitarianism, and Judith Jarvis Thomson with her defense of abortion rights stemming from an appeal to the trolley problem thought experiment, each compelling arguments in favor of reason. With the study of biases in decision making, we discover the Fairness Heuristic is one of the common ways that people attempt to rationalize. The question remains: to what extent does rationalization shape our perception of reality, and, in turn, our very selves? We use logic tests, study validity in logic and truth tables to reveal what arguments stand up to scrutiny. We continue to grapple with questions of free will and determinism. As we continue to delve deeper, we continue to use intuition pumps and thought experiments and even explore virtue epistemology to better understand our motives and motivations. Can we ever truly escape the allure of self-justification or is it a fundamental part of the human condition?