Dabor comments on An Introduction To Rationality - Less Wrong

11 Post author: kerspoon 20 October 2013 02:43AM

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Comment author: Dabor 21 October 2013 05:35:08PM *  0 points [-]

Being rational does not mean thinking without emotion. Being rational and being logical are different things. It may be more rational for you to go along with something you believe to be incorrect if it fits with your values.

For example, in an argument with a friend it may be logical to stick to what you know is true but rationally you may just concede a point of argument and help them even if you think it is not in their best interest. It all depends on your values and following your values is part of the definition of instrumental rationality.

If you're taking suggestions for corrections, I'd like to make one.

Your definition of "logical" here seems to be "ideal in a world of perfectly rational agents." I think that, for most people, 'logical' would already be a loaded term that's somewhat overlapped with the term 'rational', and allowing people to trade saying "That's rational but not right" for "That's logical but not right" may not be ideal (or logical, in your parlance).