A theory proposing that in practice—outside textbooks—logic, reason, and rationality vary significantly between individuals. It argues that what counts as a “logical” move is shaped by personal history, cultural background, social position, emotional state, and immediate context. No universal logical rule, not even the law of non‑contradiction, operates identically across all people in all situations. Instead, individuals develop situated rationalities: they may accept paradoxes in love, reject valid syllogisms from disliked sources, or prioritize coherence over consistency. The theory does not claim that logic is arbitrary, but that its real‑world functioning is always mediated by the person doing the reasoning, making interpersonal logic as much a study of people as of propositions.
Example: “She understood his argument perfectly but found it illogical because it came from someone she didn’t trust—interpersonal logic theory, where who speaks matters as much as what is said.”
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 30, 2026
Get the Interpersonal Logic Theory mug.A complement to Interpersonal Logic Theory, focusing on variation within a single individual across time, mood, and context. A person may reason rigorously in their professional field but rely on intuition or tradition in personal life; they may accept evidence calmly in one moment and dismiss it angrily the next. Intrapersonal logic theory explores how identity, emotional state, and shifting commitments produce internal logical pluralism—the same person can hold contradictory standards, change their reasoning style under stress, or switch between rationalities depending on whether they are arguing, meditating, or making a quick decision. It challenges the assumption that each person has a single, stable “rationality.”
Example: “He was a hard‑nosed empiricist at work, but when discussing his childhood beliefs, his reasoning shifted to narrative coherence and emotional truth—intrapersonal logic theory, the same mind, different logics.”
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 30, 2026
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