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Rationalists learn better?? [agnostic.com]

Mcflewster 8 Oct 3
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6 comments

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0

Rationalists learn better than whom?

Non Rationalists eg. religionists???

0

Does he mean "rationalist" in the sense of a person who is rational or in terms of it in philosophy as in rationalist vs. empiricist?

Gawd Level 5 Oct 4, 2019

It appears he means precisely this:

"When I speak of reason or rationalism, all I mean is the conviction that we can learn through criticism of our mistakes and errors, especially through criticism by others, and eventually also through self-criticism. A rationalist is simply someone for whom it is more important to learn than to be proved right; someone who is willing to learn from others — not by simply taking over another's opinions, but by gladly allowing others to criticize his ideas and by gladly criticizing the ideas of others. The emphasis here is on the idea of criticism or, to be more precise, critical discussion. The genuine rationalist does not think that he or anyone else is in possession of the truth; nor does he think that mere criticism as such helps us achieve new ideas. But he does think that, in the sphere of ideas, only critical discussion can help us sort the wheat from the chaff. He is well aware that acceptance or rejection of an idea is never a purely rational matter; but he thinks that only critical discussion can give us the maturity to see an idea from more and more sides and to make a correct judgement of it."

@Gawd I am agnostic about that.

@Mcflewster Yeah I agree with this in part, however in regards to "truth" it sounds as though he takes too far a position of relativism. Certainly one should be able to distinguish better ideas from lesser ones.

"He is well aware that acceptance or rejection of an idea is never a purely rational matter;"

I'd argue this.

4

Unfortunately, I see this can and often does apply to all of us. Even myself, at times, can succumb to emotional views. We are not always right and I will have no problem in admitting it.

4

So thats the problem with repubs, they live in a delusional world, where rational thinking is Abhorred.

5

I don't care if my hypotheses turn out to be proved right or wrong. I just want to see the evidence either way. 🙂

0

Does that mean opposites attract????

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