the term "rational" for economists has a very specific meaning. an actor behaving "rationally" has a utility function that satisfies some set of properties, and

the term "rational" for economists has a very specific meaning. an actor behaving "rationally" has a utility function that satisfies some set of properties, and when confronted with choices, chooses in a way that maximizes that utility function. these are the properties of a "rational" utility function: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory#Actions.2C_assumptions.2C_and_individual_preferences http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_choice_theory#Actions....