Satoshi_Nakamoto comments on Rational vs Reasonable - Less Wrong

15 Post author: abramdemski 11 July 2015 03:31AM

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Comment author: Satoshi_Nakamoto 13 July 2015 10:27:00AM *  1 point [-]

Is this a decent summary of what you mean by 'reasonable': noticeably rational in socially acceptable ways, i.e. you use reasons and arguments that are in accordance with group norms?

A reasonable person:

  • can explain their reasoning
  • is seen as someone who will update their beliefs based on socially acceptable evidence
  • is seen to act in accordance with social norms even when the norms are irrational. This means that their behaviour and reasoning are seen as socially acceptable and/or praiseworthy
Comment author: abramdemski 13 July 2015 11:02:42PM 1 point [-]

Yes, I think that's an accurate succinct definition. (Note: I spent a few minutes writing this comment thinking that there was a small different between your statement and my intention, and ultimately decided that there wasn't.) We could make many fine distinctions in this cluster. To list several notions in this close region:

  • A person who is guided by the goal of being rational vs a person who is guided by the goal of seeming rational
  • Trying to seem rational by any means vs trying to seem rational in socially acceptable ways
  • Trying to be rational by any means vs trying to be rational only in socially acceptable ways

The last of these is similar to the concept of a person who is playing to win vs a scrub a person who sees overly clever strategies as a kind of cheating, but other than that, plays to win.

Another important concept is negitiability: that the decision-making process is open to scrutiny and adjustment by outsiders. This is similar to corrigibility, as well.

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