And there's no better window into a person's character than the decisions that they make and how they make them and how one applies rationale and ethics and reason while under duress.
(n) (law) an explanation of the fundamental reasons (especially an explanation of the working of some device in terms of laws of nature), Syn. principle, Example:the rationale for capital punishment; the principles of internal-combustion engines
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53 Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
n. [ L. rationalis, neut. rationale. See Rational, a. ] An explanation or exposition of the principles of some opinion, action, hypothesis, phenomenon, or the like; also, the principles themselves. [ 1913 Webster ]