non-rational

Adjective

non-rational (not comparable)

1. Contrary to reason; lacking an appropriate or sufficient reason; irrational.
   • Indeed, the tirade against information in effect serves to justify the constriction of the area of rationality and scientific approach, in order to find room for all kinds of non-rational sources of "knowledge."2005, Irfan Habib, “How to Evade Real Issues and Make Room for Obscurantism”, in Social Scientist, vol. 33, no. 9/10, p. 7
2. Lacking the ability to reason.
   • But what of non-rational beings—the animal or infant-man of attuition?1898, S. S. Laurie, “The Growth of Mind”, in The School Review, volume 6, number 2, page 83n

   Synonyms:

   arational, irrational

3. (often) Not within the domain of what can be understood or analyzed by reason; outside the competence of the rules of reason.
   • In the total artistic process the two phases—rational and non-rational, planful and inspirational—may be successive or simultaneous.1959, Thomas Munro, “Art and Scientific Technology”, in Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, volume 19, number 3, page 400
   • Holton, a Harvard physicist and science historian, introduces us to the two extremist factions he sees attacking science from both sides: the "new Dionysians" who would widen the spectrum of scientific knowledge to include nonrational experience and the "new Apollonians" who would restrict...1974 August 10, John Douglas, “Daedalus on the Challenges to Science”, in Science News, volume 106, number 6, page 92

   Synonyms:

   arational

4. (public policy) Not based on one's own interests; inconsistent with utility maximization.
   • In the nature of things there must be causes that explain why an industrial enterprise—mill, factory, foundry, dairy, refinery—is located at just this or that place, and not somewhere else. Some of these causes are non-rational, such as accident and caprice. . . . The remaining causes are rational...1896, Edward A. Ross, “The Location of Industries”, in The Quarterly Journal of Economics, volume 10, number 3, page 247