Fake Beliefs

An account of irrationality would be incomplete if it provided no theory about how rationality works—or if its “theory” only consisted of vague truisms, with no precise explanatory mechanism. This sequence asks why it’s useful to base one’s behavior on “rational” expectations, and what it feels like to do so.

Mak­ing Beliefs Pay Rent (in An­ti­ci­pated Ex­pe­riences)

A Fable of Science and Politics

Belief in Belief

Reli­gion’s Claim to be Non-Disprovable

Pro­fess­ing and Cheering

Belief as Attire

Pre­tend­ing to be Wise

Ap­plause Lights