Predictably Irrational - Research Paper Example

As a philosophical example, one could agree that there are many religions. Most all of them profess faith in God or a god, and yet none of them can completely agree on a universal doctrine which clearly expresses shared values. If that is not an example of people being predictably irrational, there are certainly more examples to follow. However, that is just an idea to illustrate the point that there can be many different viewpoints, but only one truth viewed from multiple avenues. These truths certainly stem from pluralism, as, we live in a pluralistic society to be sure in the 21st century all around the globe.

Also, the fact that Cartesian dualism plays a major role in making this cliche of “predictably irrational” a phrase which some people may regard with diffidence—one naturally distrusts conflicting ontological meanings, when they can coexist together as a phrase and make sense. II. Thesis (90 words) No doubt, it is difficult to accurately pinpoint this seemingly cliche phrase describing someone who is predictably irrational. Although somewhat of an unusual phrase, one person can completely be irrational as well as predictably so.

This extended definition, if you will, is going to be broken up into manageable sections t oread. Predictable irrationality will be proven by: giving an extended definition of predictability; what predictability is not; what irrationality is; what an extended definition of rationality is; and, finally, what is the definition of someone who is predictably irrational. III. The Nature of Predictability Part I (115 words) To introduce the idea of predictability, predictability is usually the assumption that a pattern is set.

People count on predictability—the prediction that the stock market will rise, that the sun will rise in the east and set in the west, and that they will have three square meals per day. Predictability governs the land. Schedules, timetables, and clocks dictate where we are and what we do, most of the time. Predictability itself is cliche. “[W]e might adjust our definition and instead term cliche a predictable or unoriginal turn of phrase or action.”1 This is why predictability would fit in so well with the idea of irrationality—but more on that point later soon ahead. IV. The Nature of Predictability Part II (85 words) Another issue that concerns predictability is that something or someone predictable is never vague or indeterminate.

“The existence of widespread predictability is a potential embarrassment to claims of radical indeterminacy…”2 Thus, the very nature of predictability is one’s ability to describe what is going to happen when. Predictability directly contradicts unpredictability precisely because of the fact that it leads to concrete evidence of forming types of patterns. When something is unpredictable, it has the tendency to be vague. This leads us to our next point. V. The Nature of Unpredictability (100 words) Unpredictability is, by its very nature, in contra of predictability.

However, by studying what unpredictability is, we can find out more about predictability. Unpredictability is precluded by the inability to be predictable. Thus, surprises become commonplace. There are no patterns, everything is in flux, constantly. Now, if everything was that unpredictable in the world, think about how horrible