I think no one would argue that the rationality community is at all divorced from the culture that surrounds it. People talk about culture constantly, and are looking for ways to change the culture to better address shared goals. It’s sort of silly to say that that means it should be called the “irrationality community.” Tyler Cowen is implicitly putting himself at the vantage point of a more objective observer with the criticism, which I find ironic.
Where Tyler is wrong is that it’s not JUST another kind of culture. It’s a culture with a particular set of shared assumptions, and it’s nihilistic to imply that all cultures are equal no matter from what shared assumptions they issue forth. Cultures are not interchangeable. Tyler would also have to admit (and I’m guessing he likely would admit if pressed directly) that his culture of mainstream academic thought is “just another kind of religion” to exactly the same extent that rationality is, it’s just less self-aware about that fact.
As an aside, I think Lumifer is a funny name. I always associate it with Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and with Lucifer. Basically I always picture your posts as coming from a cross between a cartoon candle and Satan.
It’s sort of silly to say that that means it should be called the “irrationality community.”
Notice the name of this website. It is not “The Correct Way To Do Everything”.
it’s not JUST another kind of culture. It’s a culture with a particular set of shared assumptions
Don’t ALL cultures have their own particular set of shared assumptions? Tyler’s point is that the rationalist culture, says Tyler, sets itself above all others as it claims to possess The Truth (or at least know the True Paths leading in that general direction) -- and yet most cultures have similar claims.
Lucifer
Lucifer is the bringer of light (Latin: lux). Latin also has another word for light: lumen (it’s the same root but with the -men suffix). Just sayin’ :-P
But I will also admit that the idea of an all-singing all-dancing candelabra has merit, too :-)
It’s sort of silly to say that that means it should be called the “irrationality community.” Tyler Cowen is implicitly putting himself at the vantage point of a more objective observer with the criticism, which I find ironic.
It did seem to be a pretty bold and frontal critique. And “irrationality community” is probably silly. But I agree LW, et al has at times a religious and dogmatic feel to it. In this way the RC becomes something like the opposite of the label it carries. That seems to be his point.
As an aside, I think Lumifer is a funny name. I always associate it with Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and with Lucifer. Basically I always picture your posts as coming from a cross between a cartoon candle and Satan.
Yes. Yes.
If this wasn’t exactly the mental image I had of Lumifer before, then it is now.
I think no one would argue that the rationality community is at all divorced from the culture that surrounds it. People talk about culture constantly, and are looking for ways to change the culture to better address shared goals. It’s sort of silly to say that that means it should be called the “irrationality community.” Tyler Cowen is implicitly putting himself at the vantage point of a more objective observer with the criticism, which I find ironic.
Where Tyler is wrong is that it’s not JUST another kind of culture. It’s a culture with a particular set of shared assumptions, and it’s nihilistic to imply that all cultures are equal no matter from what shared assumptions they issue forth. Cultures are not interchangeable. Tyler would also have to admit (and I’m guessing he likely would admit if pressed directly) that his culture of mainstream academic thought is “just another kind of religion” to exactly the same extent that rationality is, it’s just less self-aware about that fact.
As an aside, I think Lumifer is a funny name. I always associate it with Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, and with Lucifer. Basically I always picture your posts as coming from a cross between a cartoon candle and Satan.
Notice the name of this website. It is not “The Correct Way To Do Everything”.
Don’t ALL cultures have their own particular set of shared assumptions? Tyler’s point is that the rationalist culture, says Tyler, sets itself above all others as it claims to possess The Truth (or at least know the True Paths leading in that general direction) -- and yet most cultures have similar claims.
Lucifer is the bringer of light (Latin: lux). Latin also has another word for light: lumen (it’s the same root but with the -men suffix). Just sayin’ :-P
But I will also admit that the idea of an all-singing all-dancing candelabra has merit, too :-)
It did seem to be a pretty bold and frontal critique. And “irrationality community” is probably silly. But I agree LW, et al has at times a religious and dogmatic feel to it. In this way the RC becomes something like the opposite of the label it carries. That seems to be his point.
Yes. Yes.
If this wasn’t exactly the mental image I had of Lumifer before, then it is now.
Maybe a bit more Satan than cartoon