Are Humans Rational or Irrational?

Behavioral economist Dan Ariely, the author of Predictably Irrational, uses classic visual illusions and his own counterintuitive (and sometimes shocking) research findings to show how we’re not as rational as we think when we make decisions.

How can these ideas relate to learning and teaching?

• As teachers should we continue to drive hard-hitting facts into our students heads saying it’s reality?
• Humans are much less rational than we are given to think. So how can we urge our students to question any accepted ideas and concepts? How can we teach them to doubt reality? Go beyond accepted beliefs and develop critical thinking?
• I still believe that one of the most noble aims of any educational system is to encourage students to formulate new challenging questions rather than adopt hardly knit sets of knowledge.
• When it comes to decision-making, rational thinking is highly overrated. So we have to be aware of our limits when dealing with testing and evaluating kids at school. It’s not that obvious when we label students as mediocre, brilliant, or whatever. Things might be different in reality.
• Making the right decisions sometimes may be a real challenge

Watch the video: