[extropy-chat] examples of rational irrationalism

[Jef Allbright]

Lee Corbin wrote:
> Stuart writes
> 
>> Well if you are engaged in a game (survival, stock market,
>> tennis, parcheesi, it's all the same), the utility of any 
>> particular "move" is generally your "score".
>> 
>> A rational player is defined as a player who makes moves
>> to raise ones score and draw closer to winning the game.
>> To make moves intent on lowering ones score and losing the
>> game is thereby irrational
> 
> I concur.  But too many people on this list refuse to use
> our meanings of the word "rational", as in the good example 
> you've provided.
> 
> I'm afraid it's time to abandon ship.  Words are like 
> ball-bearings on a skating rink:  to get anywhere, you have 
> to tread carefully and be especially wary of putting too much 
> weight on any one of them.

Words are like a scaffolding, allowing one to climb higher and
See farther than before -- IF the scaffolding is sound.

- Jef