Such familiar figures as a messed-up clown (John Malkovich) and a hyper-rational man of science (Donald Pleasence) either suffer the torments of love or try to find the root of evil.

NEWYORKER: Shadows and Fog

Even the much-maligned figure of rational economic man, maximising his utility, is less an article of faith than an excuse to use calculus.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

The classical theory of the rational, economic man would have him avoid risk and thereby avoid the coin flip.

FORBES: By Stephen Horan, PhD, CFA, CIPM

Fight for the essence of that which is man: for his sovereign rational mind.

FORBES: Booked Bio: Who is Ayn Rand?

What Obama's radicalism tells us is that he is not a man who is moved by rational discourse.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Avoiding an American ambush

Man, by nature is a conscious, rational being.

FORBES: Self Interest: The Most Life Enhancing Driver of Them All

The man returns to his current girlfriend, well groomed and totally rational.

FORBES: Super Bowl Ads Serve Up Sexism

Surely, if Ricardian equivalence can work for the man in the street, it must apply to hyper-rational bond investors who have all the data to hand.

ECONOMIST: The dilemmas facing policymakers