pjeby comments on Compartmentalization in epistemic and instrumental rationality - Less Wrong

77 Post author: AnnaSalamon 17 September 2010 07:02AM

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Comment author: pjeby 23 September 2010 02:39:16PM 3 points [-]

I've considered it a blessing that my ambition was always just a tiny bit ahead of what I was able to do. If I'd been able to see the difference between what I could do when I started and what I'm able to do now (let alone what people who are much better than I am are able to do), I think I would have given up. Admittedly, it's a mixed blessing-- it doesn't encourage great ambition.

That reminds me of another way in which more epistemic accuracy isn't always useful: projects that I never would have started/finished if I had realized in advance how much work they'd end up being. ;-)