HungryTurtle comments on Rationally Irrational - Less Wrong

-11 Post author: HungryTurtle 07 March 2012 07:21PM

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Comment author: HungryTurtle 12 April 2012 04:05:16PM 0 points [-]

I still don't think what I said is false, it is a rhetorical choice. Saying it is rational irrationality still makes sense, it just hits some buzz words for this group and is less appealing than choosing some other form of label.

Comment author: thomblake 12 April 2012 04:13:27PM 2 points [-]

Saying it is rational irrationality still makes sense

No, it doesn't. It's a blatant contradiction, which is by definition false.

Also:

Do you see how this could be considered irrational?

Yes, someone could consider it irrational, and that person would be wrong.

Comment author: HungryTurtle 12 April 2012 07:57:25PM 0 points [-]

No, it doesn't. It's a blatant contradiction, which is by definition false.

Rational Irrationality is talking about rationality within two different levels of analysis. The result of being rational at the level of goal prioritization, the individual abandons rational methodology at the level of goal achievement.

L1- Goal Prioritization L2- Goal Achievement

If I am at a party I have desired outcomes for my interactions and experiences that produce goals. In prioritizing my goals I am not abandoning these goals, but placing them in the context of having desires that exist outside of that immediate situation. I still am trying to achieve my goals, but by correctly assessing their relevance to overarching goals, I either prioritize or de-prioritize them. If I de-prioritize my party goals, I am limiting the effort I put into their achievement. So even if I could think of more potent and effective strategies for achieving my party goals, I have abandon these strategies.

L1 rationality limits L2 rationality within low priority goal context. Rationally condoning the use of irrational methods in minor goal achievement.