Exactly. Humans are rationalizers. Operate on pre-existing gut intuitions and biases then invent after the fact rational sounding justifications.

I guess Pareto wasn't on the reading list for these intellectual frauds.

Those are actually the priors being updated lol.

Which is to say, Rationalism is easily abused to justify any behavior contrary to its own tenets, just like any other -ism.

Or worse - to justify the gut intuitions and personal biases of your cult leader.