endoself comments on Rationality Quotes: January 2011 - Less Wrong

2 Post author: wedrifid 03 January 2011 05:24AM

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Comment author: RichardKennaway 06 January 2011 08:27:38PM 15 points [-]

Let us be certain of a fact before being concerned with its cause. It is true that this method is too lengthy for most people who naturally run to the cause and overlook the certitude about facts; but at last we will avoid the ridicule of finding the cause of what does not exist.

Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle

Recently quoted on the web in relation to acupuncture studies.

Comment author: Tesseract 08 January 2011 06:05:47AM 1 point [-]

This is very good advice -- especially since postulating a cause probably increases your credence for a purported fact. Quote filed away and advice taken to heart.

Also, this ties in well with Your Strength as a Rationalist.