Rational and Irrational Factors in Politics: Difference between revisions

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{{English to type}}
{{English to type}}
The general will has been regarded by the moderns as a mere rationalisation of the sensations and appetites of the individuals composing the community. Politics according to this almost dominating view is a mere translation of human passions into ideal terms. Indeed the slogans of the parties, as well as the dialectic of the arguments used in political discussion can often be explained in this way. They are intended to make appear as rational that, which is essentially irrational. But the opposite is equally true. The emotions and prejudices, the aversions and preferences expressed in politics are frequently mere irrationalisations of essentially rational attitudes. Just as the human passions seek justification in rational grounds, even the soundest arguments appear to be reinforced by the support of an array of irrational emotions and prejudices. The apparent contradiction finds its resolution in the fact that the general will is necessarily rational in regard to the interest of the community whose survival it serves, while <span style="font-family:Garamond;">_______________________</span> which determine this interest are accidental.
This mutual interpenetration of the rational and the irrational is the key to great variety of phenomena produced by the world of politics, in the broadest sense of the term. As a member of the group the individual cannot help wishing the survival of the group and that which is necessary to that end. This is the root of his political rationality.
In every other respect he is <span style="font-family:Garamond;">predominantly</span> irrational.<br />
{{Page |n°=15}} His emotions and intellect are organised around his personality and apart from a mere chance, the will not <span style="font-family:Garamond;">by themselves</span> induce him to move in the direction demanded by the general will. If he nevertheless acts according to that will the effect upon his <span style="font-family:Garamond;">{mainly} irrational</span> emotions must be that of superficial rationalisation. <span style="font-family:Garamond;">But the right</span> behavior will be accompanied by a host of <span style="font-family:Garamond;">{unconformated}</span> arguments and association. He will find himself doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. <span style="font-family:Garamond;"></span>


== Text Informations ==
== Text Informations ==
'''KPA''': [[19/20]], 14-18 (4 typed p. with a lot of deletions)
'''KPA''': [[19/20]], 14-18 (4 typed p. with a lot of deletions)

Revision as of 13:37, 9 August 2017


Text in English to type

The general will has been regarded by the moderns as a mere rationalisation of the sensations and appetites of the individuals composing the community. Politics according to this almost dominating view is a mere translation of human passions into ideal terms. Indeed the slogans of the parties, as well as the dialectic of the arguments used in political discussion can often be explained in this way. They are intended to make appear as rational that, which is essentially irrational. But the opposite is equally true. The emotions and prejudices, the aversions and preferences expressed in politics are frequently mere irrationalisations of essentially rational attitudes. Just as the human passions seek justification in rational grounds, even the soundest arguments appear to be reinforced by the support of an array of irrational emotions and prejudices. The apparent contradiction finds its resolution in the fact that the general will is necessarily rational in regard to the interest of the community whose survival it serves, while _______________________ which determine this interest are accidental.

This mutual interpenetration of the rational and the irrational is the key to great variety of phenomena produced by the world of politics, in the broadest sense of the term. As a member of the group the individual cannot help wishing the survival of the group and that which is necessary to that end. This is the root of his political rationality.

In every other respect he is predominantly irrational.
[15] His emotions and intellect are organised around his personality and apart from a mere chance, the will not by themselves induce him to move in the direction demanded by the general will. If he nevertheless acts according to that will the effect upon his {mainly} irrational emotions must be that of superficial rationalisation. But the right behavior will be accompanied by a host of {unconformated} arguments and association. He will find himself doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.

Text Informations

KPA: 19/20, 14-18 (4 typed p. with a lot of deletions)