I had the idea that journalism can be helpful and beneficial to rationalists, and thought to write about it, but i first looked to see if someone did it already.
This post was really helpful, though i found it only through a different post since it didn’t have the keywords “journaling” and “diary”.
Here’s another benefit that isn’t discussed and relevant specifically to rationality:
We know that our memory is far from perfect, and that whenever we remember something we change the memory a little, and maybe add after the fact analysis to it.
long term journaling gives you a window into how you thought in the past, and how your thinking has changed.
I think it would also be very valuable for someone who’s just staring out with rationality, to start a journal and as part of it track his journey with rationality. We’re all families with how many of the ideas in the sequences feel obvious after sometime getting used to them. a journal would record and remind you how it was for you to first grapple with these new ideas.
Another benefit is noticing patterns and principles:
I noticed in my life that many times after some events (meaningful, happy, sad, important, etc.), i note a principle to myself, a lesson from it. but also many times when it happens, i notice that i already “noted” this principle to myself, but since i haven’t written it or talked with someone about it i forgot it. not making the smae mistakes over and over again is a large part of rationality, being able to review such moments and your thoughts on them at the moment would be very helpful.
I had the idea that journalism can be helpful and beneficial to rationalists, and thought to write about it, but i first looked to see if someone did it already.
This post was really helpful, though i found it only through a different post since it didn’t have the keywords “journaling” and “diary”.
Here’s another benefit that isn’t discussed and relevant specifically to rationality:
We know that our memory is far from perfect, and that whenever we remember something we change the memory a little, and maybe add after the fact analysis to it.
long term journaling gives you a window into how you thought in the past, and how your thinking has changed.
I think it would also be very valuable for someone who’s just staring out with rationality, to start a journal and as part of it track his journey with rationality. We’re all families with how many of the ideas in the sequences feel obvious after sometime getting used to them. a journal would record and remind you how it was for you to first grapple with these new ideas.
Another benefit is noticing patterns and principles:
I noticed in my life that many times after some events (meaningful, happy, sad, important, etc.), i note a principle to myself, a lesson from it. but also many times when it happens, i notice that i already “noted” this principle to myself, but since i haven’t written it or talked with someone about it i forgot it. not making the smae mistakes over and over again is a large part of rationality, being able to review such moments and your thoughts on them at the moment would be very helpful.