How has Rationality, as a universal theory (or near-universal) on decision making, confronted its most painful weaknesses? What are rationality’s weak points? The more broad a theory is claimed to be, the more important it seems to really test the theory’s weaknesses—that is why I assume you bring up religion, but the same standard should apply to rationality. This is not a cute question from a religious person, more of an intellectual inquiry from a person hoping to learn. In honor of the grand-daddy of cognitive biases, confirmation bias, doesn’t rational choice theory need to be vetted?
HungryTurtle makes an attempt to get to this question, but he gets too far into the weeds—this allowed LW to simply compare the “cons” of religion with the “cons” of rationality—this is a silly inquiry—I don’t care how the weaknesses of rationality compares to the weaknesses of Judaism because rational theory, if universally applicable with no weaknesses, should be tested on the basis of that claim alone, and not its weaknesses relative to some other theory.
NOTE: re-posting without offending language in the hopes i dont need to create a new name. looks like i lost on my instrumental rationality point, got downvoted enough to get be restricted. on the bright side I am learning to admit i’m wrong (i was wrong to misread whether i’d offend LW, which prevented me from engaging with others on substantive points i’m trying to learn more about).
DeFranker, thanks for the detailed note—I take your points, they are reasonable and fair, but want to share a different perspective.
The problem I’m having is that I’m not actually making any arguments as “correct” or saying any of you people are wrong. The observation/statement for the sake of discussion does not mean that there is a conclusory judgment attached to it. Now, to the extent that you say i need to have a better understanding to make dissenting points, fair, but all I want to know is what the weakest arguments against rationality are, and question what relevance those weaknesses, if any, on the determination about the amount of time and energy to be spent on rational choice theory, as opposed to another theory or no theory. This seems particularly appropriate with respect to THIS article—which asks that believers of a theory question the weakest positions of that theory—whether in application or whatever. This is an analysis for believers to perform. Again, I’m not saying you don’t have any strong arguments to weaker positions or that you even have weak positions—I’m asking how those that follow rationality have approached this question/issue and how they’ve disposed of it.
It would seem those that follow a theory have the greatest responsibility to consider the strongest arguments against that very theory (which is exactly why EY posted the article re: Judaism). Why is it so inappropriate to hold rationality to the same standard? I’m not presupposing an answer, I just want to know YOUR answer is so i better understand your point of view. Perhaps your answer is “its obvious this theory is correct,” without more. I would be fine with that simply because you’ve answered the question—you’ve given me your perspective. Sure, I may ask additional questions, but the goal is not to be right or win some online war, the goal is to learn (my effing name is “non-expert”—you dont’ have to worry about me telling you that you’re wrong, but i may question your logic/reason/etc.) I cannot learn unless I understand the perspectives of those that disagree with me.
And regarding the quoted text—yes, while i appreciate i did not follow the “culture” or norms of this site, I had looked at this site as a place for substantive answers/discussions. I’m not making a fully general counterargument—I’m simply pointing out that attacking my jokes/jabs allows you to avoid my question—again, to be clear, I didn’t ask the question to prove you’re wrong, I’m asking the question to hear your answer!