Frankenstein Rationality

The actual, messy plurality of rational practices that humans employ, which are not reducible to a single set of rules. Frankenstein Rationality is the phenomenon of navigating multiple, inconsistent rational standards without suffering cognitive collapse. It includes using formal logic in mathematics, casuistry in law, heuristics in shopping, and intuition in relationships. People do not try to unify these; they shift gear seamlessly. This concept helps explain why people can be rational in one domain and seemingly irrational in another—they are using different rationalities. It also explains cultural differences in what counts as “good reasoning.”

Example: “Her Frankenstein Rationality allowed her to apply Bayesian probability at work and traditional horoscope reading at home—two rationalities, one person.”

Frankenstein Rationality by Dumu The Void May 26, 2026

Frankenstein Rationality Theory

A theoretical framework that challenges monolithic, universalist conceptions of rationality. It posits that what counts as “rational” is assembled from multiple, often contradictory norms, practices, and standards that vary by context, culture, and individual. There is no single Rationality with a capital R; there are rationalities—some from science, some from law, some from everyday life, some from indigenous traditions. These rationalities are not fully commensurable. The “Frankenstein” metaphor highlights that they are stitched together, and that real-world agents move between them without achieving global coherence. The theory is influenced by bounded rationality, pluralism, and post-normal science. It rejects the idea that rationality can be captured by any single formal system.

Example: “Frankenstein Rationality Theory explains why a doctor uses evidence-based medicine in diagnosis but patient narratives in treatment decisions—stitching together two different rationalities.”

Frankenstein Rationality Theory by Dumu The Void May 26, 2026