I’m pretty new here and can say that, as someone who had done a bit of philosophy before at school before arriving, I was familiar with the definition of rationalism you link above but not with the rationalist community in the LessWrong sense.
Aware this is very anecdotal evidence, but thought it might be vaguely useful in some way.
I will, though, point out that you’re effectively conflating two different questions here: “What would it be easier for other people to call us, or how should we self-identify as members of a certain community in the public at large?” and “How should we self-refer within the community?” The answers to these questions do overlap, but the factors to consider when arriving at each answer are markedly different.
Hello! I’ve been a lurker for a few weeks and promised myself I’d actually make an account after my university exams finished.
I’m 22, from England, and technically still an undergraduate student of English Language and Literature at the University of Oxford (though I did do an A-Level in philosophy). Since my final exams finished, I’m finding myself with much more time on my hands to learn new skills, and I was drawn to the rigour of discussion here. I took the fact that I was so intimidated by every single discussion point as a reason to jump in. Truthfully, I feel a bit of an outsider as an arts/humanities student on this forum, but also have a suspicion this feeling will prove unfounded.
I’m a newbie to almost every major topic of discussion at LW, but my main goals are: to absorb as much new knowledge as I can; to improve my writing style, which I dislike; and to define, and refine, my worldview based on hard thinking.
It’s great to meet everyone!