arational

comparative more arational · superlative most arational

1. human sciencesNot within the domain of what can be understood or analyzed by reason; not rational, outside the competence of the rules of reason.First known use 20th c.

   On the first view, emotions are purely biological phenomena. . . . They are arational and amoral, like other natural bodily functions.

   2001, Ronald De Sousa, “Moral Emotions,”, in Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, volume 4, number 2, page 109

   3 more examples

   If the end-product of a man's philosophizing about the nature of the cosmos is the ultimate, arational matter, this will affect his moral opinion of the cosmos.

   1938, Marten Ten Hoor, “The Philistines over Philosophy,”, in The Journal of Philosophy, volume 35, number 20, page 542

   Scientific knowledge is conceptual, rational, and testable. Mystical knowledge is usually aconceptual, arational, and does not lend itself to interpersonal testing.

   1974, Ervin Laszlo, “Why Should I Believe in Science?”, in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, volume 34, number 4, page 484

   Regarded with the objectivity of hindsight, the illusion appears arational, almost fantastic: it would be like being able both to lie and to trust other people at the same time.

   1996, David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest […], Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 146

   Synonyms: non-rational