ABSTRACT
Smith’s analysis of human behaviour is rooted in a sophisticated theory of understanding and knowledge. In particular, Smith associates rationality (and rational deliberation) with the ability to identify a congruent setting, in which mutually acceptable reasons may be identified. Once such a congruent setting is identified, ‘Smithian’ rationality presupposes the ability to attune decisions to the structure of expectations prevailing within such an environment.1 This makes rationality itself to be context-dependent.2 In particular, rationality appears to be relative to the relational context in which human deliberation takes place. The same choices could be reasonable under some rational configurations and unreasonable under others.
