Jonathan_Graehl comments on The Importance of Self-Doubt - Less Wrong

23 Post author: multifoliaterose 19 August 2010 10:47PM

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Comment author: Jonathan_Graehl 20 August 2010 01:23:48AM *  5 points [-]

it's very important that those of us who aspire to epistemic rationality incorporate a significant element of "I'm the sort of person who engages in self-doubt because it's the right thing to do" into our self-image

I think most of us do. Your argument for this is compelling. However, I think Eliezer was just claiming that it's possible to overdo it - at least, that's the defensible core of his insight.

I've wondered if I'm obsessed with Eliezer's writings, and whether I esteem him too highly. Answers: no, and no.

Anything that has even a slight systematic negative impact on existential risk is a big deal.

Probably true. But it's sometimes easy to be on the wrong side of an argument over small differences (of course sometimes you can be certain). I guess such "there's no harm" statements (which I've also made) are biased by a desire to be conciliatory. I don't trust people to behave well when they're annoyed at each other, so I sometimes wish they would minimize the stakes.

Eliezer appears to be deviating so sharply from leading a genuinely utilitarian lifestyle

I doubt I know any utilitarians.

Comment author: multifoliaterose 20 August 2010 03:53:54AM 1 point [-]

Thanks for correcting my typos.

Comment author: Jonathan_Graehl 20 August 2010 04:08:55AM 1 point [-]

You're welcome - I've redacted my comment so it no longer mentions them.