Does he believe that 'absolute rationality' is achievable?

Charlie Munger's View on "Absolute Rationality"

Well, that's an interesting question! I’m a big fan of Munger’s books and speeches—he’s this super-pragmatic guy who always talks about decision-making and human flaws. Simply put, Charlie Munger (Warren Buffett’s longtime partner) doesn’t believe "absolute rationality" is fully achievable. Why? Let me break it down step by step, like we’re just chatting.

First, What Is "Absolute Rationality"?

Imagine absolute rationality as a perfect computer making decisions 100% based on facts and logic, free from emotions, biases, or errors. Munger thinks this is nearly impossible in reality because humans are born with all sorts of "mental bugs"—what he calls "psychological biases" or "cognitive biases." For example, you might overreact to a recent bad news story and avoid investing ("recency bias"), or buy a stock just because everyone else is ("herd mentality"). These are evolutionary instincts that helped our ancestors survive but often lead us astray today.

Munger’s Stance: Rationality Is Approachable, Not Absolute

Munger isn’t a pessimist. He believes we can become more rational through effort, but he stresses this is about approaching rationality, not achieving perfection. In his books (like Poor Charlie’s Almanack) and speeches, he argues:

• Humans aren’t rational animals: We’re more like "thinking monkeys," constantly swayed by emotions and biases. Munger often cites behavioral psychology, like Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman’s work, proving our brains have systematic flaws.
• But we can improve: Munger’s signature advice is "multidisciplinary mental models." Don’t view problems through a single lens—draw from economics, psychology, physics, etc., to cross-verify. For instance, before buying a stock, don’t just study financials; also consider whether psychological traps might cloud your judgment.
• Real-world example: Munger admits he and Buffett have made mistakes, but they use checklists to avoid common biases. Like pilots inspecting planes before takeoff, this helps bypass mental pitfalls.

Why Is Absolute Rationality Impossible?

From a philosophical/epistemological angle (i.e., how we know what’s true), Munger argues the world is too complex, our knowledge is limited, and "unknown unknowns" always exist. Even flawless logic can’t override human nature—traits like envy or greed. As Munger often quips: "If you think you’re perfectly rational, you’re fooling yourself." This echoes Socrates’ "I know that I know nothing"—admitting limitations is the starting point of wisdom.

My Humble Suggestion

If you want to adopt Munger’s approach, don’t chase perfection. Start by recognizing your own biases. Read his books or listen to his speeches—they’re refreshingly down-to-earth. Bottom line: He sees absolute rationality as Utopian, but through practice, we can live smarter and dodge major pitfalls. Got more questions? Fire away!