[ExI] Meta question

[spike]

From: extropy-chat [mailto:extropy-chat-bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of William Flynn Wallace
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2016 9:32 AM
To: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>
Subject: Re: [ExI] Meta question

 

Given that, we cannot define irrational behavior.  spike

 

Weight in on this Anders - please?

 

I think if one cannot define a word one should not use it.  …

(as for your engineers, I would think that 'whatever works' is rational and whatever doesn't, despite theory, first impression, or expert opinion to the contrary, is irrational)

 

bill w

 

 

 

 

 

Ja.  In human experience, we have our individual-level reasoning, our family-level reasoning, our neighborhood-level, our national level and so forth.  Keith has pointed out there is genetic-similarity based reasoning.  So the distinction of rational vs irrational is based on which level or meta-level it is based.  

 

Regarding the use of terms, we must recognize that the distinction between rational and irrational is difficult to define when dealing with human behavior.  Use them sparingly and with due caution.

 

spike

 

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