Z_M_Davis comments on Rationality Quotes - June 2009 - Less Wrong

8 Post author: pjeby 14 June 2009 10:00PM

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Comment author: Z_M_Davis 15 June 2009 04:17:57PM 5 points [-]

if you can't fathom why they do what they do, or why they believe what they believe, that's your failing not theirs.

Interestingly though, by accepting this symmetry between you and your enemy, you potentially thereby break it. If you can understand why they believe what they believe, but they don't understand why you believe what you do, then you can justifiably consider yourself in a superior epistemic position.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 15 June 2009 04:50:02PM *  4 points [-]

Maybe they also think they understand you. You can't get intelligence from simple asymmetry.