This seems like it should instead be a 2x2 grid: something can be either normative or non-normative, and if it’s normative, it can be either an algorithm/procedure that’s being recommended, or a criterion of rightness like “a decision is rational iff taking it would cause the largest expected increase in value” (which we can perhaps think of as generalizing over a set of algorithms, and saying all the algorithms in a certain set are “normative” or “endorsed”).
Just on this point: I think you’re right I may be slightly glossing over certain distinctions, but I might still draw them slightly differently (rather than doing a 2x2 grid). Some different things one might talk about in this context:
Decisions
Decision procedures
The decision procedure that is optimal with regard to some given metric (e.g. the decision procedure that maximizes expected lifetime utility for some particular way of calculating expected utility)
The set of properties that makes a decision rational (“criterion of rightness”)
A claim about what the criterion of rightness is (“normative decision theory”)
The decision procedure that it would be rational to decide to build into an agent (as implied by the criterion of rightness)
(4), (5), and (6) have to do with normative issues, while (1), (2), and (3) can be discussed without getting into normativity.
My current-although-not-firmly-held view is also that (6) probably isn’t very sensitive to the what the criterion of rightness is, so in practice can be reasoned about without going too deep into the weeds thinking about competing normative decision theories.
Just on this point: I think you’re right I may be slightly glossing over certain distinctions, but I might still draw them slightly differently (rather than doing a 2x2 grid). Some different things one might talk about in this context:
Decisions
Decision procedures
The decision procedure that is optimal with regard to some given metric (e.g. the decision procedure that maximizes expected lifetime utility for some particular way of calculating expected utility)
The set of properties that makes a decision rational (“criterion of rightness”)
A claim about what the criterion of rightness is (“normative decision theory”)
The decision procedure that it would be rational to decide to build into an agent (as implied by the criterion of rightness)
(4), (5), and (6) have to do with normative issues, while (1), (2), and (3) can be discussed without getting into normativity.
My current-although-not-firmly-held view is also that (6) probably isn’t very sensitive to the what the criterion of rightness is, so in practice can be reasoned about without going too deep into the weeds thinking about competing normative decision theories.