Immoderately rational

Abstract

Your little brother’s birthday is coming up. You want to give him a present, but you’re not sure what would be best: it’s got to be something he doesn’t already have, and it’s got to be good. As you’re walking along one day, contemplating your options, a mysterious stranger approaches and hands you a pamphlet. It reads: Give the gift of epistemic rationality! Our experienced technicians will gently scramble your friend or loved one’s brains so that, from now on, she will believe what her evidence supports. Results guaranteed. All previously acquired evidence will be maintained. Call today! “There’s my answer!” you think to yourself. After all, you know that your brother—unlike you—often falls short of the epistemic ideals. By making him epistemically rational, this spa treatment should thereby make him epistemically better off.