Valid and Invalid Practical Rationality from the Perspective of Allameh Tabataba’i

Rationality, in addition to describing theoretical matters, is also a description of actions. Every action that originates from a human arises from their practical reason; however, if the focus of practical reason is excessively directed toward one of the lower faculties, such as desire, anger, or illusion, human reason follows that faculty, leading to invalid rationality. If practical reason, in its attention to the animate faculties, follows the judgment of theoretical reason, valid rationality is formed. In the former state, practical reason may follow desire, anger, or illusion and lead the actions align with them. The action arising from rationality directed toward desire, anger, and illusion consists, respectively, of attracting pleasant and compatible matters, repelling unpleasant ones, and striving for conventional matters such as possession. In sound rationality, actions aligned with desire, anger, and imagination are limited to an extent that does not hinder the ultimate perfection of reason. This extent is determined by practical reason in accordance with the judgment of theoretical reason.