I’m envisaging an alternate universe much like our own, in which there is one additional social convention. Here is a list of some famous books in that universe:
The Portrait of a Rationalist On the Rationality of the Heavenly Spheres Discourse on Rationalism The History of the Rationality and Irrationality of the Roman Empire Dr Rational and Mr Irrational The Rationalist of Monte Cristo The Rational Gatsby Things Irrational Apart How Rational is Your Parachute?
This post really is about whether it is rational (not “good”, “nice”, “approved-of”, etc.) to mistrust one’s own rationality (not “correctness”, “omniscience”, “good taste”, “general awesomeness”, etc.).
I think you are taking your campaign against overuse of “rational” and its cognates too far.
‘Rational’ as in rational agent is a pretty well defined concept in rational choice theory/game theory/decision theory. That is what I refer to when I use the word.
I’m envisaging an alternate universe much like our own, in which there is one additional social convention. Here is a list of some famous books in that universe:
The Portrait of a Rationalist
On the Rationality of the Heavenly Spheres
Discourse on Rationalism
The History of the Rationality and Irrationality of the Roman Empire
Dr Rational and Mr Irrational
The Rationalist of Monte Cristo
The Rational Gatsby
Things Irrational Apart
How Rational is Your Parachute?
This post really is about whether it is rational (not “good”, “nice”, “approved-of”, etc.) to mistrust one’s own rationality (not “correctness”, “omniscience”, “good taste”, “general awesomeness”, etc.).
I think you are taking your campaign against overuse of “rational” and its cognates too far.
This is not unlikely.
I beg your pardon; I should have said “irrationally far” :-).
Yep. We shouldn’t use “rational” when we merely mean “correct”, “optimal”, “winning”, or “successful”.
Rationality is a collection of techniques for improvement of beliefs and actions. It is not a destination.
‘Rational’ as in rational agent is a pretty well defined concept in rational choice theory/game theory/decision theory. That is what I refer to when I use the word.