what was the end result of the changes in the political and rational world of Europe
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The word ‘rationality’ and its cognates, like ‘reason’, have multiple contexts and connotations. The rationality of calculation (as in ‘rational man’) can be contrasted with the rationality of interpretation (a ‘reasonable interpretation’). There is the rationality of proof (demonstration) and the rationality of persuasion (which may be rhetorical as well as logical). There is rationality in tradition and rational criticism of tradition. Rationalism (and rationalists) can be reasonable or unreasonable. Reason is distinguished from revelation, superstition, convention, prejudice, emotion, and chance, but these are also aspects of reasoning and – if Descartes’ error is indeed an error (Damasio 1994Damasio, A. R. 1994. Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain. New York: G. P. Putnam.
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) – some at least may be essential to it. Being clear about these meanings must be part of the agenda of anyone who talks about rationality in politics.