Taboo "rationality," please.

MBlume

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?

Related on OB: Taboo Your Words

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?

But ... (and now I'm genuinely curious) why aren't we living in a period way after rationality became the optimal choice? JulianMorrison and my suggestion provides the lower bound, but what is the upper bound?

Are you asking an explanation for why anthropic reasoning is bunk?

1Johnicholas17y

To falsify the conjunction "Rationality is optimal now" and "Rationality was not optimal previously", you only need to falsify one of the conjuncts. For example, "Rationality is not optimal now" or "Rationality was optimal previously". EDIT: I said that awkwardly. To change your mind regarding "Rationality is optimal now and rationality was not optimal previously", you would have to change your mind regarding one of the conjuncts. For example, you could accept the statement "Rationality is not optimal now." Robin Hanson has posted on the costs of rationality.

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Taboo "rationality," please.

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Taboo "rationality," please.

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