Some aspects of the theory of rationality

The theory of rationality has always attracted attention of researchers in different areas of scientific knowledge because rationality is always associated with something reasonable, expedient and more perfect.

Rationality is a concept that is interpreted in different ways in philosophy. In particular, according to M. Weber as expediency, according to R. Carnap as maximum expected utility, the encyclopedic dictionary defines rationality as a comparative assessment of knowledge opposed to its absolute assessment [4].

In applied researches rationality in accordance with its Latin origin «ratio» – reason is thought of as something perfected and more efficient. Most often, rationality is interpreted as compliance with the laws of reason - the laws of logic, methodological norms and rules. What corresponds to the logical and methodological standards is rational; what violates these standards – non-rational or even irrational. Some authors (A.L. Blinov, V.N. Porus, V.B. Shneider) understand rationality as expediency: what furthers a goal is rationality, what hinders it is irrationality.

• V.N. Karpovich, analyzing the concept of rationality, points out the differences in meaning when using the term in different sciences: «economists associate rational with effectiveness (rational economic behavior, for example, as opposed to irrational behavior), philosophers – with reason (for example, rational knowledge, as opposed to knowledge of acquaintance)» [2].

Until recently it was believed that a model of rational activity is science and scientific activity. All the other spheres of human activity are rational only to the extent that they are based on scientific knowledge and methods. It is now recognized that each area of activity has its own standards of rationality, which do not always coincide with scientific ones, so we can talk about rationality in the arts, in politics, management, and so on [1].

• V.N. Porus holds the view that such concepts like "efficiency" and "effectiveness" are defined through "rationality", i.e. what is efficient and effective is rational [3].

Therefore, efficient and effective actions that lead to the achievement of the goal are expedient. If rationality is expediency then the measure of expediency, according to the author’s point of view, can be effectiveness. Rationality as a fundamental characteristic of human activity V.N. Porus calls a cultural value that simultaneously has a methodological and axiological dimension. The author emphasizes that the methodological sense of rationality cannot be separated from axiological one without significant loss and vice versa. When scientific rationality is interpreted as a system of regulatory means (laws, regulations, norms, evaluation criteria), accepted and widely relevant in the scientific community, this concept acquires the exact meaning and methodological significance. However, this interpretation is a model of scientific activity (in its intellectual aspects) or methodological image of science, therefore it is necessary to distinguish between scientific rationality and its methodological model. Models of scientific rationality are being developed by methodologists and philosophers on the basis of different purposes: to determine the rational organization of "ready" scientific knowledge for rational understanding of the processes of knowledge and learning transmission, to determine the rationality of scientific growth and development (ibid).

J. Mosterín considers rationality in theoretical and practical aspects. According to the author, reason and rationality are not one and the same. Reason is a psychological ability, whereas rationality is an optimization strategy. Theoretical rationality J.Mosterín defines as a strategy serving the maximum coverage and accuracy of human perceptions about reality that contains a formal component which is limited to logical coherence, and a material component, which consists in empirical validation that uses innate mechanisms to detect and interpret signals [6].

Practical rationality is manifested in the strategy that serves the achievement of the optimum existence of individual, the maximum realization of the most important goals and satisfaction of preferences. A formal component of practical rationality is limited to a theory of decision-making, and a material constituent is based on human nature. Thus, practical rationality determines theoretical one, and not vice versa. In any case, all rational proofs are considered as preliminary and can be subject to change (ibid).

M.S. Bedke opposes the conceptual priority of rationality and pursuit of goals in favor of conceptual priority of motives. The author defines the meaning of rationality as procedural (methodological) rationality, which is associated with the pursuit of goals, where the latter is rational to the extent to which a person has motivation to act in accordance with it [5]. Rational influence of motives determines possession of a rational reflectivity. C. Rovane believes that people are not just rational, they have full reflective rationality with the only comprehensive requirement that rationality imposes on people - achievement of an absolute rational unity within themselves (within their capabilities) [7]. This is the course of actions and thoughts, which specifies the internal view of the world in human consciousness, to better fit real world environments, i.e. rational thinking, which leads to rational decision making.

The problem of rationality appears as philosophical and worldview problem. However, there are many aspects of particular nature (logical and methodological, historical and scientific). Therefore, the problem of rationality is an interdisciplinary one and only with such an approach it can be understood as a problem of science in general.