From Rationality to Scientific Rationality

Conceptual Indeterminacy and Methodological Delimitation

Abstract

This article argues that the concept of rationality, widely used across disciplines, suffers from conceptual indeterminacy, obscuring its precise definition and boundaries. This necessitates a clear and coherent definition to delimit its scope and to grasp the specific relationship it maintains with science. Rationality holds particular epistemological value within the scientific domain, where it is closely tied to the scientific method. We explore how the general notion of rationality has evolved into the more specific concept of scientific rationality and examine how it diverges from other forms of rational thought. Our central hypothesis is that “rationality” lacks a straightforward definition, even in scientific contexts, and is instead understood through stipulative definitions due to its inherent complexity and broad lexical field. This inquiry aims to clarify the methodological and conceptual delimitation of scientific rationality.