MichaelVassar comments on The Sacred Mundane - Less Wrong

42 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 25 March 2009 09:53AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (103)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: MichaelVassar 26 March 2009 01:06:43PM 7 points [-]

Does physics count? Or certain mathematical discoveries? Those are highly abstract and non-sensory but seem to be major spiritual triggers.

Comment author: Annoyance 26 March 2009 07:34:08PM 0 points [-]

I would recognize those as valid. In my experience, it's the realization of just how wide-reaching and powerful the implications of certain findings are that triggers the experience.

If it's just a reaction to 'large', at least it's conceptual large rather than physical.

Comment author: steven0461 26 March 2009 07:55:48PM *  4 points [-]

As another piece of evidence, people are awed by space, not because it's particularly interesting, but because "billions and billions".