The Rationality of Affective Polarization

Abstract While philosophers have extensively examined whether belief polarization can be rational, they have largely ignored the rationality of affective polarization. Affective polarization is the tendency for partisans to view opposing partisans negatively and copartisans positively. This paper investigates the rationality of affective polarization. We evaluate this phenomenon by relying on two prominent philosophical theories of rational emotions. The first theory holds that emotions are (cognitively) rational when they are fitting responses to objects or events in the world, while the second theory maintains that emotions are (instrumentally) rational when they help agents achieve their goals. We argue that affective polarization fails to meet the standards of rationality under either framework. Affective polarization is thus irrational.