• Studying
      Here
      • Chat with a Magdalen student
      • As an Undergraduate
        • Courses We Offer
        • Joint Schools
        • Information for applicants 2020/21
        • How to Apply
        • Funding Your Course
        • Choral Scholars
        • Open Days and Visits
        • International Students
        • Visiting Students
        • Commonly Asked Questions
      • As a Graduate
        • Application Process
        • Selection Criteria
        • Clinical Medicine
        • Funding Your Course
        • Scholarships and Awards
        • Visiting Students
      • Second BA
      • Outreach
        • Online Outreach Event Booking
        • Half Term Virtual Taster Days
        • Talks With Tutors- Taster Subject Lectures
        • Next Steps Sheffield
        • Outreach Resources
        • Law at Magdalen Programme
    • Living
      Here
      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Environment
      • Student Life
      • Student Profiles
        • Adam, Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE)
        • Amy, History
        • Betsy, Jurisprudence with Legal Studies in Europe
        • Catrin, Human Sciences
        • Eleanor, French and Linguistics
        • Nadia, Medicine
        • Parth, Biochemistry
        • Ryan, English
        • Seb, Music
      • Catering
      • Magdalen College Welfare Support
      • Information for care-experienced students
      • Societies
        • The Florio Society
        • The Atkin Society
        • The Sherrington Society
        • The Magdalen College Trust
          • Accomodation
      • Glossary
    • Discover
      Magdalen
      • College History
        • The College Buildings
        • The 43 Presidents
        • Famous Alumni
        • Nobel Laureates
        • Conversation Pieces
      • Research at Magdalen
      • Visiting Magdalen
      • News
      • B&B Room Reservation
      • Shop
    • People at
      Magdalen
    • Chapel
      & Choir
      • The Chapel
        • Chapel Services
        • Chapel People
        • Sunday Addresses and Sermons
        • Learning and Fellowship
        • Some Magdalen Sermons
        • The Organ of Magdalen College
      • The Choir
      • Choir Recordings
      • Services and Music List
    • Library
      & Archives
      • COVID-19: information for library users
        • Library Click and Collect
        • Borrowing books whilst self-isolating
      • Libraries
        • New Library & St. Swithun’s Library
        • SOLO (Library catalogue)
        • History of Magdalen College Libraries
      • Archives
        • About the Archives
        • Access to the Archives
        • Online Catalogues
        • Magdalen Hall
        • Magdalen College School
      • Library & Archives Contact Details
      • Conservation
        • The Medieval Title Deeds Project
        • The Conservation of the Daubeny Library
        • The Conservation and Preservation of Greek Manuscripts at Magdalen College
      • Online Exhibitions
      • Illuminating Magdalen
      • Library & Archive News
    • Alumni
      & Friends
      • Alumni Area
        – Log in
      • Useful Information
      • Alumni News
      • Alumni Events
        • Webinar Recordings
      • Supporting Magdalen
        • May Giving Challenge
        • Making a Gift (UK)
        • Making a Gift (Outside UK)
        • Giving in your Will
        • Fundraising Priorities
        • Recognising Your Support
      • Involving our Alumni
      • Publications
        • Publications Archive
      • Development and Alumni Relations Office Team
      • Social Media Hub
    • Conferences
      & Events
      • Magdalen News and Events
      • Residential Conferences
      • Day meetings
      • Private Dining
        • Sample Menus
    • Hilary Term 2021 Return Plans
    Home > Research at Magdalen > Junior Research Fellows > Kevin Dorst: Are we (modestly) rational?
    • An unbroken tradition of learning since 1458
    • Engaging environment for study and friends
    • Welcoming students from all backgrounds
    • Building on excellence
    • A warm community
    • Academic and athletic experiences
    • A community of enquiry and discovery
    • An environment for growth
    • Nurturing arts and culture

    Kevin Dorst: Are we (modestly) rational?

    Thinking properly is hard. Sometimes I mess it up. I definitely messed it up yesterday. I’ll likely mess it up tomorrow. Maybe I’m messing it up right now.

    I’m guessing you’re like me. If so, then we’re both modest: we’re unsure whether we’re thinking rationally. And, it seems, we should be: given our knowledge of our own limitations, it’s rational for us to be unsure whether we’re thinking rationally. How, then, should we think? How does uncertainty about what it’s rational to think affect what it’s rational to think? And how do our judgments of people’s (ir)rationality change once we realize that it can be rational to be modest?

    My research tries to answer these questions.  That means it involves two main tasks.  First, it involves developing foundational formal models to help us figure out—in the abstract—how people who are modest should think.  Second, it involves applying the insights of these models to help sort out the proper interpretation of empirical work on human reasoning.  The results are often surprising.  For instance: in the abstract, it can be proven that any rational person who is modest will sometimes exhibit confirmation bias—the tendency to prefer evidence that will strengthen their prior beliefs. And empirically, it can be argued that many of the results demonstrating human’s tendencies to exhibit confirmation bias can be explained by this rational (but modest) model.  Maybe, then, confirmation bias is more rational than is standardly thought.

     

     

    BUILDING OUR FUTURE: Magdalen's Campaign to raise £7.5m to redevelop the New Library How you can help

    Connect with us

    Get in touch

    Magdalen College
    Oxford
    OX1 4AU
    United Kingdom

    T: +44 (0)1865 276000

    Contact us

    Media Enquiries

    Job Vacancies

    Find us

    • Studying
      Here

      • Chat with a Magdalen student
      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Second BA
      • Outreach
    • Living
      Here

      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Environment
      • Student Life
      • Student Profiles
      • Catering
      • Magdalen College Welfare Support
      • Information for care-experienced students
      • Societies
      • Glossary
    • Discover
      Magdalen

      • College History
      • Research at Magdalen
      • Visiting Magdalen
      • News
      • B&B Room Reservation
      • Shop
    • People at
      Magdalen

    • Chapel
      & Choir

      • The Chapel
      • The Choir
      • Choir Recordings
      • Services and Music List
    • Library
      & Archives

      • COVID-19: information for library users
      • Libraries
      • Archives
      • Library & Archives Contact Details
      • Conservation
      • Online Exhibitions
      • Illuminating Magdalen
      • Library & Archive News
    • Alumni
      & Friends

      • Alumni Area
        – Log in
      • Useful Information
      • Alumni News
      • Alumni Events
      • Supporting Magdalen
      • Involving our Alumni
      • Publications
      • Development and Alumni Relations Office Team
      • Social Media Hub
    • Conferences
      & Events

      • Magdalen News and Events
      • Residential Conferences
      • Day meetings
      • Private Dining
    • Hilary Term 2021 Return Plans

  • Copyright © Magdalen College, Oxford 2021 | Equality | Other policies | Strategic Plan | Internal Pages | Gender Pay Gap Magdalen College is a Registered Charity, No.1142149
    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We will assume that you are ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy