To be rational is to form accurate beliefs from the available evidence and produce well calibrated predictions.
The rational agent is supplied with information about a territory and has the role of building the best map possible.
Can be considered as ‘passive’ in as much as the ‘rational’ part here is not about making decisions or taking actions. However, it does involve active processing of the data, correcting for biasses and perhaps actively seeking new evidence as appropriate.
###Rationality(Decision Making)
The art of Winning
To be rational is to make the decisions that maximise expected utility.
The rational agent has information available and must use it to determine in each instant which action to take.
The more ‘active’ definition of rationality.
Forming accurate beliefs can be expected to play an instrumental role in making rational choices but is not the priority.
Believing ‘true’ things may come with a cost. If the agent knows it is biassed it may decide not to correct certain biasses because the resources are best spent in another area.
Believing ‘true’ things may actually lead to a lower utility than believing certain false things. This is the case if believing the truth leads to lower self confidence, a drain on emotional wellbeing or is a liability when signalling to others.
#Fundamental Definitions of Rationality
###Rationality(Thought)
The art of being Right.
To be rational is to form accurate beliefs from the available evidence and produce well calibrated predictions.
The rational agent is supplied with information about a territory and has the role of building the best map possible.
Can be considered as ‘passive’ in as much as the ‘rational’ part here is not about making decisions or taking actions. However, it does involve active processing of the data, correcting for biasses and perhaps actively seeking new evidence as appropriate.
###Rationality(Decision Making)
The art of Winning
To be rational is to make the decisions that maximise expected utility.
The rational agent has information available and must use it to determine in each instant which action to take.
The more ‘active’ definition of rationality.
Forming accurate beliefs can be expected to play an instrumental role in making rational choices but is not the priority.
Believing ‘true’ things may come with a cost. If the agent knows it is biassed it may decide not to correct certain biasses because the resources are best spent in another area.
Believing ‘true’ things may actually lead to a lower utility than believing certain false things. This is the case if believing the truth leads to lower self confidence, a drain on emotional wellbeing or is a liability when signalling to others.