So… if you and I debate issue X, and at the end of that debate your beliefs are completely unchanged, whereas mine have changed slightly, then we’ve determined that you are more rational than I with respect to X, and therefore probably more rational than I with respect to other issues… provided that the debate itself is “strictly rational.”
Yes?
If so, two questions: If the debate was not strictly rational, does the debate tell us anything about which of us is more rational? Can you point me at an actual example of a strictly rational debate?
As previously mentioned, there are many other things which are better for being convincing but not rational, so an actual rational debate is pretty much an idealized thing. Some of the early Socratic dialogues probably count (I’m thinking specifically of the Euthyphro). I haven’t read the Yudkowsky/Hanson AI FOOM debate, it might as well.
OK, thanks for clarifying your position.
So… if you and I debate issue X, and at the end of that debate your beliefs are completely unchanged, whereas mine have changed slightly, then we’ve determined that you are more rational than I with respect to X, and therefore probably more rational than I with respect to other issues… provided that the debate itself is “strictly rational.”
Yes?
If so, two questions:
If the debate was not strictly rational, does the debate tell us anything about which of us is more rational?
Can you point me at an actual example of a strictly rational debate?
As previously mentioned, there are many other things which are better for being convincing but not rational, so an actual rational debate is pretty much an idealized thing. Some of the early Socratic dialogues probably count (I’m thinking specifically of the Euthyphro). I haven’t read the Yudkowsky/Hanson AI FOOM debate, it might as well.
Ah, gotcha. Now that I understand what you meant by “debate”, your position is clearer. Thanks.