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  4. Writing 08: Rational and Irrational Thinking

Writing 08: Rational and Irrational Thinking

Reflection

After a series of related readings from the lectures, you will be given the opportunity to reflect on the readings and discussions for each week by writing a few short responses to given prompts. In this course, the reading responses are typically due by 5pm on Tuesdays of the following week they are assigned, after we have discussed the issues and explored the topics in class. This reflection is due on 4/7 at 5pm.

Note that the course staff are looking for your own thoughts on these topics. Writing in the first person, taking divergent viewpoints, and bringing in ideas from inside AND outside of class are what we are looking for on this assignment. Write as if you are targeting a public audience. Particularly insightful or convincingly contrarian statements might be shared with the entire class in lecture or in the course slack.

For this week, you are to consider the following questions related to the ideas from the lecture LessWrong?:

  1. When has thinking rationally helped you solve a significant problem? Explain the context. Would such thinking help an AI agent solve a similar problem?

  2. When has thinking irrationally helped you solve a significant problem? Explain the context. Would you want an AI agent to mimic such thinking?

Grading

Each reflection should be between 500 - 1000 words. It will be graded in terms of:

  • Does the reflection address the prompt?

  • Does the reflection reference the readings, videos, and/or class discussions to support the writing?

  • Does the reflection exhibit thoughtfulness, creative expression, and an authentic voice?

  • Does the reflection utilize proper grammar and a concise style?

  • Is the reflection an appropriate length?

Review the grading criteria in the rubric for this assignment.

Submission Instructions

  1. (For this first submission) Share a Google drive folder for this class with our TA Louisa (lconwill@nd.edu) and give her editor privileges.

  2. Prepare a doc in that folder named using this convention: lastname_firstname_duedate. Example: Conwill_Louisa040725

  3. Submit your google doc to canvas.