self rationalization

1. When actual reality conflicts with ones view of reality, the afflicted person rationalizes a permutation of reality that 'feels' better.

2. Typically expresses an inability to distinguish between fact and opinion.

3. Lying to oneself.

Claiming there were dinosaurs on Noah's ark is an exercise in self rationalization.

by D0gvomit December 19, 2016

Self-Serving Rationality

The performance of being coldly, dispassionately rational in situations where that rationality conveniently aligns with your desires, while abandoning that rigor in situations where it doesn't. You'll do a complex cost-benefit analysis to prove why you should buy the new gadget, but will use a gut feeling to dismiss the same analysis when it suggests you should apologize to a friend you wronged.

Example: "Her self-serving rationality was transparent: she spent three hours comparing CPU benchmarks to justify the expensive laptop she wanted for gaming ('It's the rational choice for long-term value!'). Yet, when her partner suggested comparing grocery prices to save money, it was suddenly 'an exhausting over-optimization of life.' Rationality was her servant, not her master."

by AbzuInExile January 31, 2026