Theory of Rationality Constructions

The theory that rationality itself is constructed—that what counts as reasonable, logical, or rational varies across contexts and is shaped by social, cultural, and historical forces. Rationality Constructions argues that there is no single, universal standard of reason—only different communities with different norms, developed for different purposes, serving different interests. This doesn't mean reason is arbitrary; it means reason is plural, that different rationalities exist, that the question isn't "is it rational?" but "rational by whose standards?" The Theory of Rationality Constructions explains why cross-cultural communication is hard, why debates about reason never end, why what seems obvious to one person seems absurd to another. Rationality is constructed, not given—and constructed things can be contested.

Theory of Rationality Constructions Example: "He couldn't understand why his arguments didn't convince people from different backgrounds. The Theory of Rationality Constructions explained: they were using different rationalities, different standards, different norms. His logic was logical in his framework; theirs was logical in theirs. Neither was wrong; they were just differently constructed. Understanding didn't win arguments, but it stopped him from calling them irrational."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of Efficiency Constructions

The theory that efficiency is not a natural or neutral measure but a constructed concept—built by particular interests for particular purposes, shaped by social, economic, and political forces. Efficiency Constructions argues that what counts as "efficient" depends on who's asking, what they value, what they're trying to achieve. An efficient factory from an owner's perspective (maximizing output per worker) may be profoundly inefficient from a worker's perspective (maximizing exploitation). An efficient healthcare system from a budget perspective (minimizing cost) may be inefficient from a patient's perspective (minimizing care). The theory reveals that efficiency is always efficiency-for, never efficiency-in-itself.

Example: "He'd always thought efficiency was just efficiency—a neutral measure of how well things worked. The Theory of Efficiency Constructions showed him otherwise: efficiency was always constructed, always from some perspective. The factory was efficient for profits, not for workers; the policy was efficient for budgets, not for people. He stopped asking 'is it efficient?' and started asking 'efficient for whom?'"

by Abzugal February 21, 2026