Anti-rational

Describing a viewpoint, action, or system of thought that opposes or contradicts rationalism, logic, or reason. This encompasses beliefs, behaviors, and philosophies that prioritize emotions, intuition, faith, tradition, or other non-logical bases for understanding and making decisions. anti-rational approaches often devalue the importance of evidence-based reasoning and critical thinking. The term suggests a deliberate resistance to logical processes and a preference for alternative, often subjective, methods of understanding reality. It can manifest in diverse fields, from religion and art to politics and personal relationships, often clashing with the principles of scientific inquiry and objective analysis.

Anti-rational meaning with examples

• In a heated political debate, his impassioned arguments, fueled by conspiracy theories and appeals to emotion, were a clear example of an anti-rational approach, dismissing factual evidence and logical counterarguments in favor of gut feelings and pre-existing biases.
• The popularity of alternative medicine, often lacking scientific validation, can be seen as anti-rational, as it prioritizes anecdotal evidence and belief over the rigorous testing and analysis that characterizes modern medical practice and logical procedures.
• Some forms of art, such as Dadaism, employed anti-rational techniques to disrupt traditional artistic conventions and challenge logical frameworks, opting for chaos, absurdity, and irrationality as a mode of creative expression.
• During the witch trials, the reliance on superstition and unfounded accusations, ignoring any rational arguments of evidence, was an extreme historical manifestation of anti-rational behaviour, leading to devastating injustices and illogical conclusions.