> The people who did really great things in history -- whoever you might choose as your examples -- did they achieve it by being significantly more rational tha

> The people who did really great things in history -- whoever you might choose as your examples -- did they achieve it by being significantly more rational than everyone else? Not really, no. Observational bias. Rationality of thought process in non-technical situations is rarely externalized; unless you talk of scientists, you're highly unlikely to remark on how highly rational he is being. In fact, the only way I can come up with to make such a statement fit in literary fashion is when you're making a quip on someone: "It was highly rational of Nixon to start the Vietnam War."