“I can try to be rational, but it will make things complicated for both of us.” It is certainly true. Being rational doesn’t always make sense. Think of arguing with unruly teenagers at home or your own stubbornness. Renowned sociologist Max Weber is one of the greatest modern thinkers to have explored the complexities of being rational. His insights on rationality are not just academic, but also shed light on everyday interactions and decision-making.
Weber distinguishes between four types of rationality. Purposeful or Instrumental rationalityThe focus is on achieving actionable results. Value rationalityit is driven by upholding higher values, such as strong political beliefs, regardless of the consequences. Emotional rationalityPrioritize emotions, feelings, and relationships. Traditional rationalitywhich Following the wisdom of the past Through years of habit and practice, most of us have settled into a single way of accepting our blind spots and being rational.
This explanation provides a deeper insight into the conflict, just as understanding different cultures can bring mutual benefits. One of the first tasks Nelson Mandela undertook in prison was to learn the captives’ languages, i.e. their Rationality. He believed that black South Africans could not achieve freedom by fighting. They could only achieve democracy through dialogue, that is, by talking to South Africa’s white rulers. During his 27 years of captivity, Mandela mastered Afrikaans, gaining the trust of the prison authorities and interacting with them more effectively. He delved deep into Afrikaner history, exploring the exploits of their war heroes, and immersed himself in Afrikaans literature and poetry.
Mandela truly believed that Afrikaners and black South Africans belonged to the same land. He developed a close relationship with General Constand Viljoen, a key figure in the government and commander of the defence forces known for atrocities that are still shocking today. Mandela did not soften his demands, but convinced Viljoen that justice for blacks meant greater justice for all. He could still be proud to be an Afrikaner, a war veteran and a South African citizen. Viljoen eventually called off all attacks on black civilians and helped Mandela gain the trust of other government leaders. A die-hard enemy had become a key ally. In May 1994, Mandela became president.
The story of Nelson Mandela is a familiar one. Most of us do not rely on just one way of understanding, one way of rationality. We often switch between them or use more than one. Forensic psychologists believe that successful interrogation techniques are useful in other situations. To be effective, the interrogator must suspend moral judgment. As one psychologist put it, “No matter how criminal or insane the other person is, he is sitting before you for a reason beyond mere malice. If you don’t really want to understand why he is there, then you shouldn’t either. The key is to assume that the other person is acting rationally. It is your job to judge rationality, no matter how ‘crazy’ he may seem.”
The problem is understanding not just people’s “backstory” but their “backlogic,” or underlying reasons. “Make America Great Again” taps into real despair about social mobility and the economy. Losing an election doesn’t make that despair go away. Repelling this rhetoric with ridicule only fuels the hatred that’s already rampant. Instead, we need to tell a better story — one that inspires people without demonizing their enemies. This is as hard for liberals as it is for the conservatives who despise them.
Sometimes the real breakthrough is simply to be listened to, not simply to be persuaded or tolerated. Political thinker Mary Scudder calls active listening, or paying close attention, a democratic force “beyond empathy, inclusion, and compromise.” Scudder argues that democracy means little without the practice of listening carefully to what we might not want to hear, recognizing the voices of others, and making our own voice more trustworthy, especially when democracy is under threat. Listening carefully and being heard keeps bad outcomes from becoming the final conclusion. Active listening is not about agreeing or getting along, but like learning another language without abandoning your own.
It is often said that what we have in common outweighs what we disagree with. But political and electoral unity that ignores or suppresses our deeper differences cannot last. American democracy faces significant challenges reminiscent of earlier periods of turmoil.
Violence can incite further violence, but an escalating cycle is not inevitable. The Nelson Mandela Foundation underscored this reality in a statement on General Fillion’s passing that resonates with our own turmoil: “May we remember General Fillion’s contributions to peacebuilding in the 1990s and inspire us to work together at a time when our nation once again faces great challenges.”
We too can have reasonable hopes, just like Mandela’s.
Notes and reading
The challenge of listening in democratic deliberation: Beyond empathy and inclusion – Mary Scudder (2020). “A vital contribution to contemporary political theory and democratic practice.” Political perspective (September 20, 2021).
Economy and Society: A New Translation (Kindle edition), Max Weber (2019) includes a rich preface and commentary that reflects the latest in Weber studies. Types of rationality101-102.
Getting to Know Mandela: A Personal Portrait – John Carlin (2013). Mandela was a visionary who understood that violence makes sense, but reconciliation makes more sense. His idealism was pragmatic. Carlin is widely regarded as the leading authority on Mandela.
“Forensic psychologist…” – Ian Leslie Parents (October 13, 2017) “In a tug of war, the harder you pull, the harder the other person pulls. My suggestion is to let go of the rope.” (Said without the “cappuccino and hug”)
Mere Politeness: Dissent and the Limits of Tolerance – Theresa Bejan (2019). Bejan is a professor of politics at the University of Oxford. Bejan uses punches to restore “civility.”
Divided: How fanatical beliefs are destroying democracy – Taylor Dotson (2021).we” It is the greatest threat to democracy, regardless of our politics,” said Dotson, a social science professor at the New Mexico School of Mines and Technology.
Don’t Label Me: How to Achieve Diversity Without Fueling a Culture War – Irshad Manji (2020). Manji is the founder and director of the Moral College of Ethics and is known for his novel approaches to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” and other contentious issues. Manji is affiliated with the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights.
Source: 2 + 2 = 5 – williamgreen.substack.com
