Related on OB: Taboo Your Words
I realize this seems odd on a blog about rationality, but I'd like to strongly suggest that commenters make an effort to avoid using the words "rational," "rationality," or "rationalist" when other phrases will do. I think we've been stretching the words to cover too much meaning, and it's starting to show.
Here are some suggested substitutions to start you off.
Rationality:
- truth-seeking
- probability updates under bayes rule
- the "winning way"
Rationalist:
- one who reliably wins
- one who can reliably be expected to speak truth
Are there any others?
I think it's fine to use the terms if you say what you mean by them, and not especially bad to use them even if you don't. We can't define all our terms. Why single those ones out as problematic? More potential for confusion lurks in the words we're not watching as closely.