Long back Robert E. Lane and David O. Sears Professors of Political Psychology said that “a man who believes and behaves rationally is open to new information, no matter whether it confronts or pains him. This means that he must actively seek information which is pertinent to the issues of the day, and it means that he must not seek only that which is compatible with his own prejudices. The Rationale person then attempts to formulate an opinion on the basis of the best information available subjective primarily on the basis of reliabililty and relevance. A rational man can perceive without distortion and remember accurately even information which disagrees with his opinion or runs counter to his own thinking and benefits. So to be rationale a man must expose himself to congenial and uncongenial matter alike”.
Eventhough the validity of their statements are everlasting and undisputed morally speaking, the relevance of their words today are in question in this dangerous world dominated by muscle and money power. Ethics, laws, rules and regulations all are written well in the books. But as against that, riff-raff thinking, dishonesty and unlawful deeds are commonly dominating features among majority, as these are in one way, off-shoots of behaviour of ‘Selective Perception’ and ‘Irrationality’ of mind. For example if you say to some one that your behaviour is unethical or bad, that person would not like to self-assess for himself if there s there anything wrong with his behaviour, instead s/he immediately shows animosity towards you, because criticism is unacceptable for their mind as it is against his/her tastes or life style. So if you appear like a rationalist among many, you are considered odd man and your way is always out. So, being rationale is very difficult often, because for that majority being rational is distasteful as it has no special personal advantage and also it is against individual amusement and growth.
‘Selective Perception’ and ‘Rationality’ are quite opposite to each other. Common good and concern for society is against the individual growth concept, so that majority always tries to keep aloof from rational thinking and honest behaviour. If you are deeply bothered about the social good the immediate reaction you get from majority is – first ‘you think about yourself, why do you bother about the society’. They also tries to convince you – if you stick on to morals or honesty, or rational thinking your active growth will be hindered, so try to give up such idealistic thoughts and live as majority lives. Sometimes their advice seems to be correct, because the attitudes of those people who are in power or that of the common public all seems to be quite against the ‘rational thinking’ and ‘selective perception’ is dominating their minds. So if you go against them you will be isolated, practically speaking. Many are joining that steam because they too are fed up with words such as honety, rationality, and lawful behaviour and instantaneous benefits and results are getting only if we are not so rational, irrespective of their consequences for anything done. Therefore if you go in their way to say, oh!! That is not good, this is not good or that is unethical or this is unethical or that is bad and this is good – that will not be appreciated by anyone, because their minds are not ready to receive the ideas that go against their individual amusement and benefits. Today Governments are also not in a position to invite anything that is said to be good or honest. If governments rely on the honesty or ethics, then their very existence would be endangered, because their survival always depends on the few persons who are against rationality and whose brains are dominated only by ‘selective perception’ and motives of individual benefits.
Today the recognition and identity of a person is recognized only though his outward pomp and showoff, eventhough the brain is blank. Even spiritual organizations and Religious bodies are accoustemed to such attitudes. Take for examples about the life styles of spiritual Swamijis and Gurujis in India. They preach lot of ethics to public, but their underground activities are alarming. Almost many Swamijis and Gurujis in India visit western countries or America for collecting donations in the guise of spirituality and seek donations from the business people there saying they want to help the poor people in India, by constructing schools, hospitals etc., After collecting donations, they buy super luxurious cars and build Air conditioned buildings here and you will be surprised to know about their unethical personal life styles here that are often exposed in the vernacular media, which is least known to the outside world. This shows that, they while doing lip service on spirituality and rationality, practicing the things quite against their preachings. So being rationale has become difficult for them to their survival, personal benefits and amusements.
So, to be or not to be rationale is very difficult aspect to decide. Being rationale do not fetch you money, because, rationality is generally associated with the aspects of ethics and honesty in personal as well as social life. Sticking on to ethics, honesty in social and personal life does not make you advanced in personal life. Therefore obstinately sticking on to honesty and completely renouncing the honesty both are dangerous. Persons have to learn to behave according to the situations, evethough it is dishonest by nature. Changing colors according to changing needs has become inevitable order of the day for the people around the world, except those few honest. By dchaitanya
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