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eternal_neophyte comments on Palatable presentation of rationality to the layperson - Less Wrong Discussion

2 Post author: Bound_up 06 June 2015 01:47AM

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Comment author: eternal_neophyte 07 June 2015 06:08:04PM *  0 points [-]

Optimal doesn't always mean calculated.

It seems to in most cases. It's the mode of thought people around here seem to focus on the most. In any case, I'm not saying that rationality is calculative thought, just that aversion to rationality stems from aversion to calculative thought due to people commonly associating the two since the latter is a large component in the former.

Also have to admit, I'm somewhat puzzled by how one can achieve optimal thinking without a lot of slow, deliberative calculation. To do so would be to think optimally by reflex - that would be an amazing power.

Comment author: ChristianKl 07 June 2015 06:17:22PM 0 points [-]

It seems to in most cases.

I think the dominant thought on LW is that both Kahneman's system I and system II are important and useful. It's not that one is more rational than the other.

Comment author: eternal_neophyte 07 June 2015 06:23:32PM *  0 points [-]

I don't disagree, though "rationality" as outlined in the sequences is, if I understood correctly, basically a battery of methods for dealing with the weaknesses of system I by using system II style diagnosis & analysis of habitual irrationality in system I & having it absorb corrected patterns of thought. This process is most likely what people in general dislike.