Alicorn comments on You Are Likely To Be Eaten By A Grue - Less Wrong

46 Post author: Alicorn 17 March 2010 01:18AM

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Comment author: mattnewport 17 March 2010 06:17:21PM 6 points [-]

You appear to be claiming that introspection is: a good route to self-knowledge / better understanding ones mental processes; an effective way to develop a more accurate model of your own behaviour and a good (possibly the best?) source of information to guide effective attempts at self improvement or self modification.

These are all highly controversial claims in psychology and the balance of evidence I've seen leads me to conclude that it is likely that introspection is not a good route to self-knowledge and that it is a poor basis for attempts at self improvement. I've seen a compelling case made that the best way to understand ones own behaviour is to attempt to observe yourself 'from the outside' rather than relying on introspection - you will form a more accurate model attempting to ignore data that derives from introspection and instead judging yourself the way you would judge others based on externally visible actions.

Will you be addressing the standard criticisms of introspection as a source of knowledge as part of this sequence or are you assuming it for the purposes of this sequence? I'm interested to see how the sequence unfolds but I'm concerned that you don't seem to be addressing the controversial status of introspection as a valid source of knowledge.

Comment author: Alicorn 17 March 2010 06:28:54PM 4 points [-]

Pure, naïve introspection is notoriously unreliable, and I'm aware of that. I think you'll be pleased with the supplements thereunto I recommend.

Comment author: mattnewport 17 March 2010 06:43:43PM 1 point [-]

I look forward to the rest of the sequence then.