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Single Idea 22667

[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / a. Rationality ]

Full Idea

Rationality involves some degree of self-consciousness. Not only reasons are evaluated, but also the processes by which information arrives, is stored, and recalled.

Gist of Idea

Rationality needs some self-consciousness, to also evaluate how we acquired our reasons

Source

Robert Nozick (The Nature of Rationality [1993], p.74)

Book Ref

Nozick,Robert: 'The Nature of Rationality' [Princeton 1995], p.74

A Reaction

I defend the idea that animals have a degree of rationality, because they can make sensible judgements, but I cannot deny this idea. Rationality comes in degrees, and second-level thought is a huge leap forward in degree.

The 22 ideas from Robert Nozick

18648 Freedom to live according to our own conception of the good is the ultimate value [Nozick, by Kymlicka]
18641 If people hold things legitimately, just distribution is simply the result of free exchanges [Nozick, by Kymlicka]
20539 Property is legitimate by initial acquisition, voluntary transfer, or rectification of injustice [Nozick, by Swift]
18645 Nozick assumes initial holdings include property rights, but we can challenge that [Kymlicka on Nozick]
18646 How did the private property get started? If violence was involved, we can redistribute it [Kymlicka on Nozick]
18647 If property is only initially acquired by denying the rights of others, Nozick can't get started [Kymlicka on Nozick]
18643 A minimal state should protect, but a state forcing us to do more is unjustified [Nozick]
18642 Individual rights are so strong that the state and its officials must be very limited in power [Nozick]
18644 States can't enforce mutual aid on citizens, or interfere for their own good [Nozick]
20585 If an experience machine gives you any experience you want, should you hook up for life? [Nozick]
20521 Can I come to own the sea, by mixing my private tomato juice with it? [Nozick]
21737 Unowned things may be permanently acquired, if it doesn't worsen the position of other people [Nozick]
21738 Maybe land was originally collectively owned, rather than unowned? [Cohen,GA on Nozick]
22661 My Anarchy, State and Utopia neglected our formal social ties and concerns [Nozick on Nozick]
22662 In the instrumental view of rationality it only concerns means, and not ends [Nozick]
22663 Rationality is normally said to concern either giving reasons, or reliability [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]
3570 Maybe knowledge is belief which 'tracks' the truth [Nozick, by Williams,M]
2748 A true belief isn't knowledge if it would be believed even if false. It should 'track the truth' [Nozick, by Dancy,J]