What this site means by “good rational thought”
Not “winning.” Not “being cold.” Not “always certain.”
Rational thought, as used here, is the practice of forming beliefs and making decisions in ways that reliably track reality and reduce avoidable error. It is not a personality type or a social identity.
Core virtues
- Clarity: define claims and terms. Confusion is not depth.
- Calibration: confidence should match evidence quality.
- Falsifiability: if nothing could disprove it, treat it as story, not knowledge.
- Humility: you are not exempt from bias. Neither am I.
- Auditability: show your reasoning so it can be checked.
How to use the library
- Name the pattern (bias/fallacy) without shaming yourself or others.
- Apply a counter-move (tool) that improves reality contact.
- Practice until recognition becomes fast and automatic.
Intellectual self-defense
Many arguments are not attempts to find truth. They are attempts to signal loyalty, gain status, trigger outrage, or exhaust you. Learn to detect when the “conversation” is actually a tactic. Refuse bad frames.
What this site avoids
- Overreach: heuristics are not proofs. Razors can mislead if used dogmatically.
- Cynicism: skepticism should be proportional, not a lifestyle of disbelief.
- Rationalization: smart people are often better at defending what they already wanted.
Practical standard: If a thinking habit makes you more accurate, kinder, and more resilient under
uncertainty, keep it. If it makes you brittle, certain, and performative, discard it.