Could a contradiction of implicit bias serve as a great factor to rational behavior?

Are we even self-interested? Is self-interest the vital measure of choice and determination of actual behavior upon humans today? Outside of the realms of Rationality, Amartya Sen proposes several insightful and rather thought-provoking questions. Sen contemplates the generalization of the people’s drive to satisfy individualistic desires. He refers to this generalization as “the standard assumption” often used today in modern economics. Throughout the semester we have seen various instances where self-interest played an essential role. In past readings, we have often referred to this self-interest as implicit bias, especially under the light of statutory interpretation. Nevertheless, Sen challenges this idea by questioning if this assumption is true. Considering the free market economies in Japan example that Sen presents, self-interest is bound to be a key motive. Yet, as Sen writes, “the real issue is whether there is a plurality of motivations, or whether self-interest alone drives human beings”(19). There is a high probability that human choice and behavior are influenced by external factors, such as the well-being of a community or the satisfaction of a close friend. However, I would like to first go back to Sen's initial discussion on Economics Behavior and Rationality.

In the beginning of his piece, Sen discusses Rationality as Consistency. Many people account rational behavior with internal consistency. Rational behavior is generally interpreted as self-interest or implicit bias. Yet, Sen argues, “Even if the characterization of rational behavior in standard economics were accepted as just right, it might not necessarily make sense to assume that people would actually behave in the rational way characterized” (11). Sen’s speculation on “actual behave[ior]” has allowed me to speculate on the consistency of rational behavior. It makes pure sense. If I were to constantly try to satisfy the needs and wants of others, I would not be acting rational. For example, if I were to say “yes” to all the tasks and favors my mother wanted me to complete and fulfill, would I be satisfying my own desires? Are all the tasks, things I want to complete or am I just doing such to make my mother content? While it is possible for my wants and desires to align with the completion of the tasks and favors of my mother, this is most likely not true.

The big question here is what is rational behavior? Is it driven by self-interest itself, one’s desire to satisfy others, or a mixture of the two? How can we determine this? Consistency of any kind does not help truly answer this question.