The term rational animal (Latin: animal rationale or animal rationabile) refers to a classical definition of humanity or human nature, associated with Aristotelianism.[1]
While the Latin term itself originates in scholasticism, it reflects the Aristotelian view of man as a creature distinguished by a rational principle. In the Nicomachean Ethics I.13, Aristotle states that the human being has a rational principle (Greek: λόγον ἔχον), on top of the nutritive life shared with plants, and the instinctual life shared with other animals, i. e., the ability to carry out rationally formulated projects.[2] That capacity for deliberative imagination was equally singled out as man's defining feature in De anima III.11.[3] While seen by Aristotle as a universal human feature, the definition applied to wise and foolish alike, and did not in any way imply necessarily the making of rational choices, as opposed to the ability to make them.[4]
The Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry defined man as a "mortal rational animal", and also considered animals to have a (lesser) rationality of their own.[5]
Shall I say 'a rational animal'? No; for then I should have to inquire what an animal is, what rationality is, and in this one question would lead me down the slope to other harder ones.[7]
Modern use
Freud was as aware as any of the irrational forces at work in humankind, but he nevertheless resisted what he called too much “stress on the weakness of the ego in relation to the id and of our rational elements in the faced of the daemonic forces within us”.[8]
Neo-Kantian philosopher Ernst Cassirer, in his work An Essay on Man (1944), altered Aristotle's definition to label man as a symbolic animal. This definition has been influential in the field of philosophical anthropology, where it has been reprised by Gilbert Durand, and has been echoed in the naturalist description of man as the compulsive communicator.[9]
Sociologists in the tradition of Max Weber distinguish rational behavior (means-end oriented) from irrational, emotional or confused behavior, as well as from traditional-oriented behavior, but recognise the wide role of all the latter types in human life.[10]
Ethnomethodology sees rational human behavior as representing perhaps 1/10th of the human condition, dependent on the 9/10ths of background assumptions which provide the frame for means-end decision making.[11]
In his An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish, Bertrand Russell argues against the idea that man is rational, saying "Man is a rational animal — so at least I have been told. Throughout a long life I have looked diligently for evidence in favour of this statement, but so far I have not had the good fortune to come across it."[12]
^L. Johnson, Power Knowledge Animals (2012) p. 80.
^ ab One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Man". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^The Philosophical Writings of Descartes Volume II. Translated by John Cottingham, Robert Stoothoff, Dugald Murdoch. Cambridge University Press. 1984.
^Alfred Schutz, The Phenomenology of the Social World (1997) p. 240.
^A. Giddens, Positivism and Sociology (1974) p. 72.
^Russell, Bertrand (1943). An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish. Girard, Kansas: Haldeman-Julius Publications. OCLC 3656132.
External links
Are we rational animals?
January 11, 2023
rational, animal, animal, welfare, organization, rational, animal, organization, term, rational, animal, latin, animal, rationale, animal, rationabile, refers, classical, definition, humanity, human, nature, associated, with, aristotelianism, contents, history. For the animal welfare organization see Rational Animal organization The term rational animal Latin animal rationale or animal rationabile refers to a classical definition of humanity or human nature associated with Aristotelianism 1 Contents 1 History 2 Modern use 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditFurther information Aristotle s biology While the Latin term itself originates in scholasticism it reflects the Aristotelian view of man as a creature distinguished by a rational principle In the Nicomachean Ethics I 13 Aristotle states that the human being has a rational principle Greek logon ἔxon on top of the nutritive life shared with plants and the instinctual life shared with other animals i e the ability to carry out rationally formulated projects 2 That capacity for deliberative imagination was equally singled out as man s defining feature in De anima III 11 3 While seen by Aristotle as a universal human feature the definition applied to wise and foolish alike and did not in any way imply necessarily the making of rational choices as opposed to the ability to make them 4 The Neoplatonic philosopher Porphyry defined man as a mortal rational animal and also considered animals to have a lesser rationality of their own 5 The definition of man as a rational animal was common in scholastical philosophy 6 Catholic Encyclopedia states that this definition means that in the system of classification and definition shown in the Arbor Porphyriana man is a substance corporeal living sentient and rational 6 In Meditation II of Meditations on First Philosophy Descartes considers and rejects the scholastic concept of the rational animal Shall I say a rational animal No for then I should have to inquire what an animal is what rationality is and in this one question would lead me down the slope to other harder ones 7 Modern use EditFreud was as aware as any of the irrational forces at work in humankind but he nevertheless resisted what he called too much stress on the weakness of the ego in relation to the id and of our rational elements in the faced of the daemonic forces within us 8 Neo Kantian philosopher Ernst Cassirer in his work An Essay on Man 1944 altered Aristotle s definition to label man as a symbolic animal This definition has been influential in the field of philosophical anthropology where it has been reprised by Gilbert Durand and has been echoed in the naturalist description of man as the compulsive communicator 9 Sociologists in the tradition of Max Weber distinguish rational behavior means end oriented from irrational emotional or confused behavior as well as from traditional oriented behavior but recognise the wide role of all the latter types in human life 10 Ethnomethodology sees rational human behavior as representing perhaps 1 10th of the human condition dependent on the 9 10ths of background assumptions which provide the frame for means end decision making 11 In his An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish Bertrand Russell argues against the idea that man is rational saying Man is a rational animal so at least I have been told Throughout a long life I have looked diligently for evidence in favour of this statement but so far I have not had the good fortune to come across it 12 See also EditCommunicative rationality Donald Davidson Economic man Erasmus Genus differentia definition Neocortex Reality principle Thomas Paine John von Neumann Behavioural scienceReferences Edit Animal Cognition The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Metaphysics Research Lab Stanford University 2021 Aristotle Ethics 1976 p 75 and p 88 B P Stigum Econometrics and the Philosophy of Economics 2003 p 194 Stigum p 198 L Johnson Power Knowledge Animals 2012 p 80 a b One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Man Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company The Philosophical Writings of Descartes Volume II Translated by John Cottingham Robert Stoothoff Dugald Murdoch Cambridge University Press 1984 S Freud On Psychopathology PFL 10 p 247 D Attenborough Life on Earth 1992 ch 13 Alfred Schutz The Phenomenology of the Social World 1997 p 240 A Giddens Positivism and Sociology 1974 p 72 Russell Bertrand 1943 An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish Girard Kansas Haldeman Julius Publications OCLC 3656132 External links EditAre we rational animals Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rational animal amp oldid 1121877466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
