Rational vs Reasonable: Rationality focuses on cold logic, efficiency, and maximizing personal outcomes, akin to an algorithm or “Spock” from Star Trek. Reasonableness is a broader, more practical approach that blends logic with empathy, fairness, and social context. Being reasonable often means accepting “good enough” to maintain relationships or sanity, whereas being rational demands the mathematically optimal path, often leading to unmanageable stress. The key differences: Logic vs Fairness, Self vs Others, and Optimal vs Practical. For myself, this is where pragmatism always has entered: whatever it is, it has to work! Nothing ever comes out perfectly as there is always a tradeoff to get a resolution. The present Middle East War for example; no matter which side wins or a compromise we all desire, there can be no ‘perfect’ result. What seems rational to either side is preventing an end to the war, while reason on both sides can produce an agreement to end the conflict…