Getting Structural (Ir)rationality into View

Abstract

This chapter introduces the central notion of structural (ir)rationality that the book is concerned with, giving some central examples and hallmarks of the phenomenon. The author defines a lack of “fitting-togetherness” found in some combinations of mental states as incoherence. And he calls the particular kind of irrationality that incoherent states like these display structural irrationality. The author provides an initial case for a “dualist” view of rationality that distinguishes two equally genuine notions of rationality, structural and substantive. He also makes a number of clarifications about structural rationality, coherence, and the relationship between the two. Finally, he previews some of the central challenges for a theory of structural rationality.