2 ms·

"Rationalisation" has a negative connotation.

• i80and 11y ago
  Specifically, it typically has a connotation of ex post facto.
• OJFord 11y ago
  Are you British? (I'm picking up on the 's', not sure if you're just quoting me). It seems others commenting on negative connotation are all American, but personally I would only consider it thus in the form of a question: > Oh yes? How do you rationalise that then? The answer to which is a statement of facts - how it is that I deem whatever 'that' is to be rational. I would proffer it stems from an assumption that we are rational beings (uh-oh) which may suggest that the very fact it's questionable implies it is incorrect; but we're not rational, people differ - the one thing we all have in common is that we tend to think our own actions rational. Hence "my rationalisation" is neutral; "your rationalisation" has a negative --ahem-- ex post facto connotation.