Does, lets call it “rationalism”, want everyone to be a rationalist?
I think many proponents of rationalism do, judging by the popularity of the phrase “raising the sanity waterline” around the site.
However, I also notice that LW is not as expansion-focused in its practical actions as its closest neighbor, the skeptical movement. I’ve heard some people express a fear that we might end up with forever-early rationalists who learn just enough to be dangerous and stop there, and later we end up having to correct the public misperceptions they generate.
My personal view: I think spreading rationalism is good, but that we are best off focusing on people who are already primed for it, such as those who are already very into skepticism or science and are looking for something hardcore to sit at the center of those interests.
I think many proponents of rationalism do, judging by the popularity of the phrase “raising the sanity waterline” around the site.
However, I also notice that LW is not as expansion-focused in its practical actions as its closest neighbor, the skeptical movement. I’ve heard some people express a fear that we might end up with forever-early rationalists who learn just enough to be dangerous and stop there, and later we end up having to correct the public misperceptions they generate.
My personal view: I think spreading rationalism is good, but that we are best off focusing on people who are already primed for it, such as those who are already very into skepticism or science and are looking for something hardcore to sit at the center of those interests.