update one's priors

update one's priors (third-person singular simple present updates one's priors, present participle updating one's priors, simple past and past participle updated one's priors)

1. (rationalist community) To change one's beliefs in the face of new evidence.

   Synonym: revise one's priors

   • 2016 March 23, Aaron E. Carroll, “In Defense of Moderate Drinking (Again)”, in New York Times‎:

     In others words, the study doesn't make me think I should update my priors much at all.

   • 2019 April 19, Simon Thompson, quoting Penny Lane, “The Devilishly Compelling 'Hail Satan?' Challenges More Than Preconceptions”, in Forbes‎:

     I think that is a testament to documentary audiences: the film absolutely requires an open mind and heart and a willingness to update your priors in the face of new information.

   • 2019 September 19, Tyler Cowen, “What the Jeffrey Epstein Case Says About Elite Men”, in Bloomberg‎:

     Every so often a story comes along that causes me to update my priors — that is, to rethink what I thought I knew.

   • 2022 January 9, Conor Friedersdorf, “Justice Reformers Need to Update Their Priors”, in The Atlantic‎:

     (title)