Kevin comments on Open Thread: July 2010, Part 2 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: Alicorn 09 July 2010 06:54AM

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Comment author: Kevin 16 July 2010 03:27:53AM 1 point [-]

It all adds up to normality, damn it!

Comment author: Will_Newsome 16 July 2010 03:29:55AM *  1 point [-]

What whats to what?

More seriously, that aphorism begs the question. Yes, your hypothesis and your evidence have to be in perfectly balanced alignment. That is, from a Bayesian perspective, tautological. However, it doesn't help you figure out how it is exactly that the adding gets done. It doesn't help distinguish between hypotheses. For that we need Solomonoff's lightsaber. I don't see how saying "it (whatever 'it' is) adds up to (whatever 'adding up to' means) normality (which I think should be 'reality')" is at all helpful. Reality is reality? Evidence shouldn't contradict itself? Cool story bro, but how does that help me?

Comment author: Kevin 16 July 2010 04:45:11AM 0 points [-]