Is There a Religious Commitment to Rationalism?

The speaker raises the idea that there is a religious component to rationalism, suggesting that utilitarianism may not be the only justifiable secular ethic. They question the effectiveness of rationalism in purging cognitive biases and improving decision-making skills, pointing out a lack of practical outcomes from studying it. The speaker argues that knowing one's values and goals first, and then finding the best means to achieve them may be more effective than solely focusing on studying cognitive biases. They illustrate this with examples from poetry and finance, noting that successful individuals in these fields are not necessarily rationalists. Ultimately, the speaker suggests that practical skill-building and goal-oriented approaches may be more beneficial than abstract rationalism.