Compare this with this; the category you’re thinking of is almost surely the latter, regardless if whether or not there is a meaningful distinction between instrumental rationality everywhere else and “the particular kind of instrumental rationality espoused on Less Wrong.”
I am not referring to instrumental rationality in general (as there are many kinds that are incompatible with the ideology common to those of this community). It is as if I was speculating on the future of the “Chevy Camaro” and you asked me if I meant “automobile”.
Yes, I realise the term I used is problematic; that’s why I put it in scare quotes. I simply don’t know of a better name for what I am referring to. Grognor reminded me of this and this, but while those argue against using “rationalism” in the way that is common around these parts (and is correct in doing so) it doesn’t supply a viable alternative. Should I really say “Less Wrongism”?
I am not referring to instrumental rationality in general (as there are many kinds that are incompatible with the ideology common to those of this community).
Let’s say I work in the field of screw theory; unfortunately, the field is mostly barren, and so few people would understand if I were to claim to be a screw theorist. Rather, I’d claim to study kinematics, even though my “ideology” of kinematics were very different from “traditional kinematics”. Your alternative seems to be akin to calling the screw theorist a natural philosopher.
Yes, I realise the term I used is problematic; that’s why I put it in scare quotes. I simply don’t know of a better name for what I am referring to. [snip] …but while those argue against using “rationalism” in the way that is common around these parts
It isn’t “common around these parts.” The last article in main to be tagged “rationalism” is from three years ago. For me, a google of “site:lesswrong.com rationalism” gets less than a thousand hits; rationality gets about 42,000.
Should I really say “Less Wrongism”?
No. You should say instrumental rationality. It should be clear from the context that you mean the LW-style.
Yeah, you’re right. The term I chose to use is suboptimal. On the other hand, “instrumental rationality” is not the name of our shared ideology (and that is what I was referring to). It is the name of a category that a large part of our shared ideology fits into. I’m still unsure of what to refer to it as, but the name I used wasn’t a good one.
Nitpick: Just last month, there was a article in main with “rationalism” in the title used in the way I was referring to. I have updated away from believing it is common usage in this community, but it still doesn’t seem very uncommon “around these parts”.
Note: I myself have criticised this usage of “rationalism” before for similar reasons.
I am not referring to instrumental rationality in general (as there are many kinds that are incompatible with the ideology common to those of this community). It is as if I was speculating on the future of the “Chevy Camaro” and you asked me if I meant “automobile”.
Yes, I realise the term I used is problematic; that’s why I put it in scare quotes. I simply don’t know of a better name for what I am referring to. Grognor reminded me of this and this, but while those argue against using “rationalism” in the way that is common around these parts (and is correct in doing so) it doesn’t supply a viable alternative. Should I really say “Less Wrongism”?
Let’s say I work in the field of screw theory; unfortunately, the field is mostly barren, and so few people would understand if I were to claim to be a screw theorist. Rather, I’d claim to study kinematics, even though my “ideology” of kinematics were very different from “traditional kinematics”. Your alternative seems to be akin to calling the screw theorist a natural philosopher.
It isn’t “common around these parts.” The last article in main to be tagged “rationalism” is from three years ago. For me, a google of “site:lesswrong.com rationalism” gets less than a thousand hits; rationality gets about 42,000.
No. You should say instrumental rationality. It should be clear from the context that you mean the LW-style.
Yeah, you’re right. The term I chose to use is suboptimal. On the other hand, “instrumental rationality” is not the name of our shared ideology (and that is what I was referring to). It is the name of a category that a large part of our shared ideology fits into. I’m still unsure of what to refer to it as, but the name I used wasn’t a good one.
Nitpick: Just last month, there was a article in main with “rationalism” in the title used in the way I was referring to. I have updated away from believing it is common usage in this community, but it still doesn’t seem very uncommon “around these parts”.
Note: I myself have criticised this usage of “rationalism” before for similar reasons.