Is Reflective Equilibrium Overly Conservative?

Abstract I address a common objection against reflective equilibrium, viz. that it is overly conservative because it does not spur thoroughgoing revisions. I operationalise informal aspects of conservativity in a formal model of reflective equilibrium. This allows for data exploration by means of computer simulation. The results show that the formal model of reflective equilibrium performs better than a conservative baseline. I conclude from this that reflective equilibrium offers the means to escape the charge of conservativity if the under-appreciated facet of systematisation is given due weight.