pjeby comments on Rationality quotes: April 2010 - Less Wrong

5 Post author: wnoise 01 April 2010 08:41PM

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Comment author: pjeby 03 April 2010 04:32:45PM 6 points [-]

Counterexample: a complex computer program designed and written from scratch.

...and that worked the very first time? How often does that happen?

The quote is a rule of thumb and an admonition to rational humility, not a law of the universe.

Comment author: Lightwave 04 April 2010 08:26:55AM 2 points [-]

Well "never works and cannot be made to work" does sound a bit strong to me.

Comment author: NMJablonski 03 April 2010 04:40:29PM 2 points [-]

I agree it's probably not a law of the universe, as I cannot rule out possible minds that could falsify it. However, I cannot from within my mind (human capabilities) see a case where a complex system could work before each of its parts had been made to work.