In his essay Erasmus Reads Kahneman, or why perfect rationality is less than it’s cracked up to be it does not seem that the concept of rationality Rick Searle cites as following the principle of non-contradiction is at work when he asserts, “We could turn even a psychopathically rational monster like Hitler into a buffoon because even he, after all, was one of us.”

In a sense, Hitler was very rational in seeking the most efficient means of committing genocide. But was the end/goal of genocide rational? The principle of non-contradiction does not seem to determine this.

We can distinguish several different kinds of rationality. “Substantial rationality” can be understood to mean “an act of thought that reveals intelligent insight into the inter-relations of events in a given situation.” (Karl Mannheim, Man and Society in an Age of Reconstruction, New York: Harcourt Brace & World, 1940, p. 53.) Thus, if a person were to have insight into the functioning of an electrical circuit, that would be an instance of substantial rationality. Let’s use the term “rationalS” and its cognates to refer to substantial rationality.

“Instrumental rationality” or “functional rationality” involves “the coordination of action with reference to a goal. This is a type of rationality that has to do with the intelligent use of means to achieve a given goal. Here, the goal is given, and instrumental rationality applies to the intelligent choice of means. Thus, if we were to have a goal of sending humanB beings to Mars, we would have to think about whether a rocket could accomplish the goal. Would it be an effective means? But instrumental rationality does not bring the goal itself into question.” (Daryl J. Wennemann, Posthuman Personhood, p. 74. http://www.amazon.com

The term “humanB” refers to biological human beings. The term humanM will refer to morally human beings or persons.) Let’s use the term “rationalI” and its cognates to refer to instrumental rationality. It should be noticed that rationalityS is implicated in the coordination of action with reference to a goal. But the choice of effective means to achieve a goal involves more than just having an insight into the inter-relations of events.

“Reflexive rationality” is a type of rationality that is directed to the intelligent choice of rational ends. A rational end is one that is consistent with reflexive rationality. Let’s use the term “rationalR” and its cognates to refer to reflexive rationality.

​So, if I were to choose an end or goal that undermines rationalR goal-seeking, it would not be a goal that is consistent with reflexive rationality, since reflexive rationality is the standard for rationalR goal-seeking. Thus, to intentionally kill a humanB being is not a rationalR goal because humanB beings are beings of a kind that are capable of rationalR goal-seeking. They are humanM ie., persons. The humanB being I kill is no longer able to seek rationalR goals. It is important to observe that reflexive rationality (rationalityR) is concerned with rationalR goal-seeking as such, not just my own rationalR goal-seeking. And so, any goal that undermines rationalR goal-seeking is morally impermissible. Again, if I were to impose a law on someone (heteronomy of the will) I would effectively be denying the person the ability to choose her/his own rationalR goals. My goal of imposing a law on someone would undermine rationalR goal-seeking. And so, it is not a rationalR goal.

These distinctions help us to see why it is not inappropriate to refer to Hitler as a “rational monster”. Given his goal of committing genocide, he efficiently pursued the goal. The means he employed were rationalI. But the goal of genocide was itself not rationalR. This is also what Francis Fukuyama is worried about in Our Posthuman Future. If we choose to alter ourselves biologically and the change we make undermines our ability to make rationalR choices, then the choice of the goal to alter ourselves biologically is not rationalR. It would be a case of rationalR goal-seeking that undermines our rationalR goal-seeking.

Images:

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inside-the-mind-of-a-startup-entrepreneur

http://vi.sualize.us/05cerebro_tatuado_814_800_pixels_art_anatomy

_painting_illustration_picture_471K.html

http://the-surreal-arts.deviantart.com/art/Don-t-f-ck-my-brain-42983724