Yes, I agree. In typical usage, labeling something as "rational" implies it furthers a goal. As each person has their own unique values and goals, rationality is highly individualized.
> Different people can have different goals but the same beliefs, they might have more in common with each other than people with the same goals but different beliefs.
OK, I see the distinction here. This is true. I'd further note that individual goals often come with sub-goals (conscious or not), and people with overlapping central goals often have disagreements over sub-goals.
This is a major problem in politics (the "narcissism of small differences"), and part of effective politics is getting people to ignore their own sub-goals in service of shared central goals. One may often feel more sympathy with an "outsider" who shares fewer actual concerns with you than with a neighbor who disagrees on specific implementations.
> Different people can have different goals but the same beliefs, they might have more in common with each other than people with the same goals but different beliefs.
OK, I see the distinction here. This is true. I'd further note that individual goals often come with sub-goals (conscious or not), and people with overlapping central goals often have disagreements over sub-goals.
This is a major problem in politics (the "narcissism of small differences"), and part of effective politics is getting people to ignore their own sub-goals in service of shared central goals. One may often feel more sympathy with an "outsider" who shares fewer actual concerns with you than with a neighbor who disagrees on specific implementations.
Edit: clarified a little more.