eirenicon comments on Are You Anosognosic? - Less Wrong

17 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 19 July 2009 04:35AM

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Comment author: eirenicon 19 July 2009 05:03:34PM *  0 points [-]

Funny, I was just reading the arguing by definition article, then clicked the red envelope and saw your reply. I looked it up because the post I just made here reminded me of it as well. However, I feel justified in this instance because anosognosia is characterized by absolute denial. As far as I can tell, this is an unusual form of brain damage because it is so black and white; 100% of anosognosics will absolutely deny their left arm is paralyzed. If they do not, it by definition (oops) is not anosognosia, just as someone with a paralyzed left arm by definition cannot move it. Consequently, I don't see the fallacy. I genuinely appreciate the criticism, though.

In any case, I avoided arguing the question, which itself is predicated on anosognosics assigning zero probability to their left arm being paralyzed. If they don't, then there is nothing to base our probability estimate on, and the question is meaningless, like asking "There are a hundred trees, one in ten trees has an apple on it, how many apples are there? (Some apples are oranges)".

Incidentally, I assign a probability of 1 to 2+2=4 and don't understand why you would not. Can you explain?

Comment author: SoullessAutomaton 19 July 2009 06:08:18PM 0 points [-]

Incidentally, I assign a probability of 1 to 2+2=4 and don't understand why you would not. Can you explain?

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