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by feoren 1483 days ago
Yay gatekeeping!

And look at all these idiots using the word "computer" to mean an electronic computation device! They must be super ignorant to not realize the word was already taken to mean human beings who perform computations as their job!

I would like to be more rational in my thoughts and decisions. I would like it if others were as well. I find that reading articles by so-called "rationalists", and reading debate around them, seems to help me do that. Not surprising, since that is their exact stated goal as well.

As far as what "rational" means:

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rational

1. Capable of reasoning.

2. Logically sound; not contradictory or otherwise absurd.

3. Healthy or balanced intellectually; exhibiting reasonableness.

4-7. [Math, chemistry, and physics stuff]

Hmm, nothing about social hierarchy or about how you're not allowed to use that word if you're not a 17th century French philosopher. What the hell are you on about, and why are you so concerned about gatekeeping this word?

2 comments

Rationalism != Rational. Putting an ism on the end of the word makes it a new word. Also, computation is still used in the sense you described.

PS: I'm not sure if it's gatekeeping to expect people who are interested in something to know a word you would learn in the first hour(s?) of learning about it. But if so, I am fully behind it.

Polish language and Polish culture, heavily influenced by French Enlightenment, also accepts use of word rationalism from empirical perspective.

Rationalism ( https://sjp.pwn.pl/sjp/racjonalizm;2573228.html ):

3. "a position requiring the observance of restrictive standards of the scientificity of knowledge"

I personally prefer that meaning of the word.