NancyLebovitz comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread - Less Wrong

34 Post author: Unnamed 27 May 2010 12:10AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (866)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 30 July 2010 02:06:57PM 1 point [-]

Is it plausible that Lucius would allow Draco to be that much of an idealist?

Comment author: MBlume 31 July 2010 04:53:54AM *  4 points [-]

Were Robin here, I suspect he would point out that allowing your children to remain innocent and naive is a sign of luxury, and a signal of high status. Lucius would be embarrassed not to have his 11-year-old son appear innocent and naive.

ETA: Childhood innocence is conspicuous consumption!

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 31 July 2010 06:08:54AM 1 point [-]

Yes, and note that Draco expects to spend his life catering to idiots. Harry's upbringing is clearly higher status.

Comment author: gwern 30 July 2010 02:18:24PM *  5 points [-]

Sure. What would Lucius worry about disillusioning Draco? The anti-pure blood wizards don't have a leg to stand on, unlike theists and atheists.

(Think back - do you recall any good arguments made against pure blood, the theory as opposed to the believers? Rowling assumes we'll instantly identify pure bloodism == racism, and that's that. If they think any harder, most people will fall into the usual trap of thinking that exceptions/brilliant-mudbloods like Hermione Granger disprove pure bloodism, which of course they don't. The history of the Wizarding world is even more consistent with pure bloodism than not!)

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 30 July 2010 03:41:53PM 2 points [-]

It wouldn't just be about Pure Blood. It would be about not having any abstract loyalties of any sort-- Malfoys want to be in charge because it's more comfortable at the top.