The Epistemic Value of Rationality

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The Epistemic Value of Rationality

• Alexandru W. Popp
•  
• APOC Services Research and Development Division
• 4650 Clanranald Suite 16, Montreal, Quebec, H3X
  2R9, Canada
• awpopp_at_apocs.net, awpopp_at_hotmail.com

SERVICES
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Abstract Models of rational choice use
different definitions of rationality. However,
there is no clear description of the latter. We
recognize rationality as a conceptual
conglomerate where reason, judgment,
deliberation, relativity, behavior, experience,
and pragmatism interact. Using our definition,
the game theoretic idealized principle of
rationality becomes absolute. Our model gives a
more precise account of the players, of their
true behavior. We show that the Rational Method
(RM) is the only process that can be used to
achieve a specific goal. We also provide
schematics of how information, beliefs,
knowledge, actions, and purposes interact with
and influence each other in order to arrive to a
specific goal. Furthermore, ration, the ability
to think in the RM framework, is a singularity in
time and space. Having a unilateral definition of
rationality, different models and theories now
have a common ground on which we can judge their
soundness.   conceptual conglomerate,
traditional rationality, rational method, ration
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MAP OF TRADITIONAL RATIONALITY (TR)
v  Rationality is linked to Reason.   v  
Rationality is having the capacity (ability) to
Reason.
Reason is a human mode of judgment. Reason is
grasping needful connections.
what is rational for one does not necessarily
mean that is rational for another.
v   Rationality is based on skilful
deliberations (reasoning). v Rationality is
relative
v   Rational behavior does not necessarily mean
rational individual, and vice versa.   v  
Irrational behavior does not necessarily mean
irrational individual, and vice versa.   v  
Rationality is guided by experience.   v  
Rationality is to achieve the end result.
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Rational Choice Theory (RCT), TR is the
deliberation and finding the best course of
action.   RCT tries to predict what actual
action will be taken.
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Three general characteristics attributed to TR
and the actors that use TR     Traditional
Rational Player A player is rational if it
chooses the alternative that has the highest
utility. (1)   Reverse Causality of TR The
reason why a person chooses a certain strategy is
that the specific strategy has the highest
utility. (2)   Comparison of Utility If Blue
values an outcome higher than Red, then Blue
values more the outcome than Red. (3)
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Game Theory uses two major assumptions regarding
the player   Assumption 1. The player can
analyze the game, i.e. he is sufficiently
intelligent. (4)   Assumption 2. Von
Neumann/Morgensterns utility function can
express the players preferences. (5)
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Assumption 1. The player can analyze the game,
i.e. he is sufficiently intelligent. (4)   Assumpt
ion 2. Von Neumann/Morgensterns utility
function can express the players
preferences. (5)    Traditional Rational Player
A player is rational if it chooses the
alternative that has the highest utility. (1)
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Experience
  1.   interaction with the environment   2.
acquiring information   3.   transforming this
information into knowledge   4. having the
ability to reason and deliberate regarding the
knowledge obtained.
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Assumption 1. The player can analyze the game,
i.e. he is sufficiently intelligent.   Belief
that actors believe that their opponents behave
in the same manner as them.     Assumption 3.
Blue I am rational (6)   Assumption 4. From
Blues perspective, Red is rational. (7)
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  Traditional Rational Player A player is
rational if it chooses the alternative that has
the highest utility. (1)    Reverse Causality of
TR The reason why a person chooses a certain
strategy is that the specific strategy has the
highest utility. (2)   Comparison of Utility
If Blue values an outcome higher than Red, then
Blue values more the outcome than Red.
(3)   Assumption 1. The player can analyze the
game, i.e. he is sufficiently intelligent. (4)   A
ssumption 2. Von Neumann/Morgensterns utility
function can express the players
preferences. (5)    
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Principle of TR Every player wishes to come out
as well off as possible.  
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  Definition 1. A goal is a personal target
that an individual wants to accomplish given some
standards.   Definition 2. Rationality is a
method of deliberation of achieving a specific
goal.  
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Rational method
It is characterized by four steps    
rm1 Blue must have a goal ?.
Nature s
rm2 Blue must look for a method ? to achieve
?. rm3 Blue must find ? to achieve ?. rm4
Blue must take ?.
Nature d
rmc Blue reaches ? by ?.    where Nature s
is Supportive Nature and  Nature d is Deviant
Nature
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rm1 Blue must have a goal ?. rm2 Blue must look
for a method ? to achieve ?. rm3 Blue must find
? to achieve ?. rm4 Blue must take ?.   rmc
Blue reaches ? by ?.               Corollary
1 If rm1 to rm4, then we have the conclusion of
the four steps, rmc.
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rm1 Blue must have a goal ?. rm2 Blue must look
for a method ? to achieve ?. rm3 Blue must find
? to achieve ?. rm4 Blue must take ?.
Nature d
rmc Blue reaches ? by ?.
??1, ?2, ?3, - set of methods f(?) a mapping
function of ? to ?. ? power of deviation of
Nature   we have f?(?), f?(?) ?? ? is power of
influence, we set 0 ? ? ? 1. If ? 0, ? is not
reached. If ? 1, ? is reached. If 0 lt ? lt 1, ?
is partially reached.
Corollary 2 If rm1 to rm4, and Nature d is
present and diverges Blue from his path, then we
have a partial rmc.
 
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rm1 Blue must have a goal ?.
Nature s
Nature s
rm2 Blue must look for a method ? to achieve
?. rm3 Blue must find ? to achieve ?. rm4 Blue
must take ?.   rmc Blue reaches ? by ?.
Corollary 3 If rm1 without rm2 to rm4, and
Nature s is supportive of Blue, then partial rmc.
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rm1 Blue must have a goal ?. rm2 Blue must
look for a method ? to achieve ?. rm3 Blue must
find ? to achieve ?. rm4 Blue must take
?.   Corollary 3 If rm1 without rm2 to rm4, and
Nature s is supportive of Blue, then partial
rmc.  
Nature s
Theorem 1. The RM and Corollary 3 are the only
ways to achieve a goal.
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Lemma of theorem 1. The RM does not guarantee
reaching the goal.
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I information B belief K knowledge O
purpose D actions ? goal (end result).