I think it is hard to state the separation as one can easily define the 2 to be the same. But if we say that these 2 things are distinct entities, with rational being "following stated premises" or "seeking the optimal decision and absolute knowledge" then I would say pragmatic wins hands down. People are more egotistical than honest and they do not seek any absolute so much as a peaceful place by the pond, an egoist victory. We can know that they don't by comparing the rational to the pragmatic view, assuming we have clear, separate definitions. I find that most people compared between both views adhere more to a pragmatic view.
If you seek to define these terms better though ragtime, I am glad to hear it, but let's even take Christians as an example, if Christians state that adherence to the will of Christ is rational, and a large percent of the population is Christian by their word, but we find massive deviations in what is willed and what is done(which I am sure you would agree as true), without a level of guilt or sorrow or willingness to improve that is anywhere close to what it should be, then we can tell that these people are pragmatic in seeking less resistance rather than following what should be logical.
04 Aug 2007, 12:30 pm
