SilasBarta comments on What Cost for Irrationality? - Less Wrong

59 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 01 July 2010 06:25PM

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Comment author: SilasBarta 01 July 2010 08:00:21PM *  1 point [-]

Up vote, because you're right, but Kaj's intention here was to provide real-world examples for convincing the layman of rationality's value. A similar example for the world of politics:...

Well, then it seems like exaggeration to the point of lying. It's more like if you said, "you should exercise so you can look like Arnold Schwarzenegger / Megan Fox and get roles in big Hollywood movies!"

Is it possible? Sure, if you put an insane level of effort into it and are in just the right circumstances, but it's not a accurate picture to present to someone of the benefits.

I think instead you should teach a specific rationalist skill (like making knowledge truly part of yourself) and justify it by the more reachable benefits.