The rational analysis of mind and behavior

Rational analysis (Anderson 1990, 1991a) is an empirical program of attempting to explain why the cognitive system is adaptive, with respect to its goals and the structure of its environment. We argue that rational analysis has two important implications for philosophical debate concerning rationality. First, rational analysis provides a model for the relationship between formal principles of rationality (such as probability or decision theory) and everyday rationality, in the sense of successful thought and action in daily life. Second, applying the program of rational analysis to research on human reasoning leads to a radical reinterpretation of empirical results which are typically viewed as demonstrating human irrationality.