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."