JoshuaZ comments on The path of the rationalist - Less Wrong

20 Post author: So8res 12 April 2015 01:44AM

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Comment author: JoshuaZ 12 April 2015 01:59:47PM 3 points [-]

TYL: So8res is using the word "beliefs" in a slightly idiosyncratic way, to refer to things one simply treats as true and as fit subjects for logical rather than probabilistic inference.

I'm not sure this is idiosyncratic. As far as I can tell this is one of the most common colloquial meanings of beliefs.

Comment author: gjm 12 April 2015 10:20:19PM 1 point [-]

Hmm, maybe. I'd have thought most people would say something is a "belief" if you assign it (say) 80% probability and act accordingly, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Comment author: RichardKennaway 13 April 2015 01:25:43PM 0 points [-]

I'd have thought most people would say something is a "belief" if you assign it (say) 80% probability and act accordingly

They also do that. "Believe" can mean both "confident of" and "somewhat doubtful of". The former contrasts the state of mind with ignorance, the latter with knowledge.

Comment author: gjm 13 April 2015 05:52:22PM 0 points [-]

In which case, it isn't true that according to their usage rationalists are supposed not to have beliefs.

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