rationality, theoretical See RATIONALITY. rationalization, (1) an apparent explanation of a person’s action or attitude by appeal to reasons that would justify or exculpate the person for it – if, contrary to fact, those reasons were to explain it; (2) an explanation or interpretation made from a rational perspective. In sense (1), rationalizations are pseudo-explanations, often motivated by a desire to exhibit an item in a favorable light. Such rationalizations sometimes involve self-deception. Depending on one’s view of justification, a rationalization might justify an action – by adducing excellent reasons for its performance – even if the agent, not having acted for those reasons, deserves no credit for so acting. In sense (2) (a sense popularized in philosophy by Donald Davidson), rationalizations of intentional actions are genuine explanations in terms of agents’ reasons. In this sense, we provide a rationalization for – or ‘rationalize’ – Robert’s shopping at Zed’s by identifying the reason(s) for which he does so: e.g., he wants to buy an excellent kitchen knife and believes that Zed’s sells the best cutlery in town. (Also, the reasons for which an agent acts may themselves be said to rationalize the action.) Beliefs, desires, and intentions may be similarly rationalized. In each case, a rationalization exhibits the rationalized item as, to some degree, rational from the standpoint of the person to whom it is attributed. See also RATIONALITY , REASONS FOR ACTION, SELF -DECEPTIO. A.R.M.