Epistemic rationality isn’t about winning?
Demonstrated, context-appropriate epistemic rationality is incredibly valuable and should lead to higher status and—to the extent that I understand Less-Wrong jargon—“winning.”
Think about markets: If you have accurate and non-consensus opinions about the values of assets or asset classes, you should be able to acquire great wealth. In that vein, there are plenty of rationalists who apply epistemic rationality to market opinions and do very well for themselves. Think Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Peter Thiel, or Jeff Bezos. Winning!
If you know better than most who will win NBA games, you can make money betting on the games. E.g., Haralabos Voulgaris. Winning!
Know what health trends, diet trends, and exercise trends improve your chances for a longer life? Winning!
If you have an accurate and well-honed understanding of what pleases the crowd at Less Wrong, and you can articulate those points well, you’ll get Karma points and higher status in the community. Winning!
Economic markets, betting markets, health, and certain status-competitions are all contexts where epistemic rationality is potentially valuable.
Occasionally, however, epistemic rationality can be demonstrated in ways that are context-inappropriate – and thus lead to lower status. Not winning!
For example, if you correct someone’s grammar the first time you meet him or her at a cocktail party. Not winning!
Demonstrate that your boss is dead wrong in front of a group of peers in way that embarrasses her? Not winning!
Constantly argue about LW-type topics with people who don’t like to argue? Not winning!
Epistemic rationality is a tool. It gives you power to do things you couldn’t do otherwise. But status-games require a deft understanding of when it is appropriate and when it is not appropriate to demonstrate the greater coherence of one’s beliefs to reality to others (which itself strikes me as a form of epistemic rationality of social awareness). Those who get it right are the winners. Those who do not are the losers.
Been lurking for a while and figured I’d go ahead and jump into the mix.
I studied philosophy (and foreign languages) in undergrad. Went to Duke for law school. Worked at one of the biggest and most hardcore law firms in the world for six years, and now I run my own shop with another lawyer in Denver. We focus on startups and tech legal work.
I only recently discovered LW through Kevin Simler’s blog Melting Asphalt and Slate Star Codex. Figured I’d come here to see if it was worthwhile to participate. I’m working my way through the Sequences.
I’m in the process of writing a law review article on automation, AI, and legal ethics.
I’ve been to a couple of Less Wrong meetups in Denver, but now I live in a remote mountain town 2.5 hours southwest of Front Range. It’s a beautiful town, and I love it. But it’s not large enough to foster a LW community.
I have a blog(!) where I post every couple of weeks or so. It’s called Joyous and Swift. Not a very LW-ish name, I suppose. But I like it.
I don’t spend a lot of time surfing online, and I’m not in the habit of frequenting comment threads. But I’ll do my best to respond to any comments directed at me (if any) in the coming weeks.
The decorum and community code here sounds entrenched and complex. I apologize in advance for any missteps. Feel free to chide me when necessary. I’d much appreciate warm guidance on how to be a good LW citizen. I will respect your norms as soon as I learn them.
Tatafornow.