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Full Idea
If a mother is presented with convincing evidence that her son has committed a grave crime, but were she to believe it that would make her life thereafter miserable, is it rational for her to believe her son is guilty?
Gist of Idea
Is it rational to believe a truth which leads to permanent misery?
Source
Robert Nozick (The Nature of Rationality [1993], p.69)
Book Ref
Nozick,Robert: 'The Nature of Rationality' [Princeton 1995], p.69
A Reaction
I assume there is a conflict of rationalities, because there are conflicting ends. Presumably most mothers love the truth, but most of us also aim for happy lives. It is perfectly rational to avoid discovering a horrible family truth.
| 22663 | Rationality is normally said to concern either giving reasons, or reliability [Nozick] |
| 22662 | In the instrumental view of rationality it only concerns means, and not ends [Nozick] |
| 22664 | I do not care if my trivial beliefs are false, and I have no interest in many truths [Nozick] |
| 22665 | Maybe James was depicting the value of truth, and not its nature [Nozick] |
| 22666 | Is it rational to believe a truth which leads to permanent misery? [Nozick] |
| 22667 | Rationality needs some self-consciousness, to also evaluate how we acquired our reasons [Nozick] |