Yes, and I aspire towards rationalism. But to self-identify as a rationalist is to think that I am something that other people are not.
Among my social group, I care the most about cognitive biases and spend the most visible effort trying to overcome them. I most strongly signal the traits of a rationalist. Does that mean I am better at making decisions than my friends? No. I make an effort to spend time around people who are more intelligent and accomplished than I am. I expect their opinions to be, on average, better informed than mine (at minimum in their area of expertise).
The primary effect of considering myself to be a rationalist would be to dismiss the opinions of non-rationalists and hold my own opinions in higher esteem. I expect that to make my decisions worse, not better.
ETA: I understand the usefulness of self-identity in developing and maintaining constructive habits. I understand a rationalist might use this property of self-identity to their advantage (for example, by self-identifying as “a safe pair of hands”). But I don’t believe that identifying as a rationalist qua rationalist would lead me to constructively better habits.
Rationalism is not the endpoint but a direction.
Yes, and I aspire towards rationalism. But to self-identify as a rationalist is to think that I am something that other people are not.
Among my social group, I care the most about cognitive biases and spend the most visible effort trying to overcome them. I most strongly signal the traits of a rationalist. Does that mean I am better at making decisions than my friends? No. I make an effort to spend time around people who are more intelligent and accomplished than I am. I expect their opinions to be, on average, better informed than mine (at minimum in their area of expertise).
The primary effect of considering myself to be a rationalist would be to dismiss the opinions of non-rationalists and hold my own opinions in higher esteem. I expect that to make my decisions worse, not better.
ETA: I understand the usefulness of self-identity in developing and maintaining constructive habits. I understand a rationalist might use this property of self-identity to their advantage (for example, by self-identifying as “a safe pair of hands”). But I don’t believe that identifying as a rationalist qua rationalist would lead me to constructively better habits.
I believe you and Lumifer both mean rationality, not rationalism which is the name of a completely different philosophical position.