I would add to this that (it seems to me) what most people here mean when they refer to a rationalist is someone who consciously tries to apply their knowledge of epistemic rationality to generate their beliefs, and someone who consciously tries to apply their knowledge of instrumental rationality to achieve their values.
(That’s opposed to someone who has a “textbook” knowledge of the techniques of rationality, but doesn’t actually call upon it when making decisions.)
Anyone using the word “rationalist” here to imply “intelligent, socially awkward, well-educated, and unencumbered by education” is just being extremely sloppy with their words.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/31/what_do_we_mean_by_rationality/
See also: http://lesswrong.com/lw/nc/newcombs_problem_and_regret_of_rationality/ , and the “nameless virtue” of http://yudkowsky.net/rational/virtues .
Edit: And http://lesswrong.com/lw/7i/rationality_is_systematized_winning/ , which I forgot.
See also http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Rationality .
I would add to this that (it seems to me) what most people here mean when they refer to a rationalist is someone who consciously tries to apply their knowledge of epistemic rationality to generate their beliefs, and someone who consciously tries to apply their knowledge of instrumental rationality to achieve their values.
(That’s opposed to someone who has a “textbook” knowledge of the techniques of rationality, but doesn’t actually call upon it when making decisions.)
Anyone using the word “rationalist” here to imply “intelligent, socially awkward, well-educated, and unencumbered by education” is just being extremely sloppy with their words.