AlexU comments on GroupThink, Theism ... and the Wiki - Less Wrong

-4 Post author: byrnema 13 April 2009 05:28PM

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Comment author: AlexU 13 April 2009 09:04:49PM 0 points [-]

Be careful about how you define those terms, as they may be idiosyncratic. "Rationalism" and "Empiricism" have long philosophical histories, and are typically seen as parallel, not-quite-rival schools of thought, with the rationalists striving to root all knowledge in a priori rational inquiry (Descartes' Meditations is the paradigm example). I'm not sure it's wise to flip that on its head by redefining such a common, well-denoted term.

Comment author: byrnema 13 April 2009 09:10:49PM *  1 point [-]

I want to define the terms in the standard way; as it is commonly viewed in this group. I'm new on LW and those definitions were just my best guesses.

Comment author: AlexU 14 April 2009 01:29:48AM 1 point [-]

Your best guesses seem pretty close to how the terms are used on here; I think the community at large should be wary of appropriating terms that already have long histories in certain fields.