I feel a bit silly writing an post about connotations on a rationalist website, but I really love the quote "Rationality (is/is not) winning". I see a few different ways of interpreting it:
- "Rationality is winning" - results are more important than following a particular ritual of cognition. If something doesn't work, abandon it no matter how "rational" is seems.
- "Rationality is not winning" - exploration is much more fun than just mindlessly going toward some goal.
- "Rationality is winning" - what matters is how good you are at reaching socially accepted criteria of "success" - I don't like this connotation at all.
- And I can think of a few others...
I wonder, the way human brain works, is it common for there to be thoughts that are much better expressed with a short sentence full of ambiguous connotations, that by long and accurate explanations? Give me your favourite ambiguous quotes!
Er, exploration is working toward a goal, too. Every action you can take is in service to a goal; the only way to (arguably) escape goals is not to act or think -- to be a vegetable.