Psy-Kosh comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 3 - Less Wrong

5 Post author: Unnamed 30 August 2010 05:37AM

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Comment author: Psy-Kosh 06 September 2010 04:58:25PM *  11 points [-]

A thought re Chapter 43...

Hermione is (as established here) rather intelligent. Is she aware of the concept, in some form, of quantum immortality? Because I can't help but wonder if the particular fear she saw, what she experienced with the Dementor (not counting the "message"?) was basically a fear of QI. I mean, assuming via QI you don't incrementally lose your mind and effectively gradually decay, you'd expect to see everyone else die, with you yourself all alone at the end.

So, is quantum immortality effectively what Hermione saw/feared?

Also, re chapter 46.. Harry has nothing to say about involuntary memory charms? (Not to mention the notion that letting them know that dementors can be defeated, even without telling them how, might plant the seeds that would let them later on be ready to learn.)

Comment author: TobyBartels 07 September 2010 12:27:13AM 2 points [-]

Harry has nothing to say about involuntary memory charms?

Priorities, priorities …

Comment author: alethiophile 14 September 2010 01:47:13AM 1 point [-]

Hermione's reflections during Chapter 46 imply that her fear is not of everyone else dying, and her being left alone, it's of everyone else dying first and her dying alone.