Douglas_Knight comments on [META] 'Rational' vs 'Optimized' - Less Wrong

30 Post author: TheOtherDave 04 January 2012 06:58PM

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Comment author: Douglas_Knight 04 January 2012 10:48:33PM 3 points [-]

I think superlatives like "optimal" have a lot of problems. In particular, I think saying "optimal philanthropy" says to people "I'm perfect, unlike you," while comparatives like "better philanthropy" communicate something more like "Let us strive together to be better." (I think "efficient" is a better choice than "better" for related connotative reasons.)