Dr_Manhattan comments on Teachable Rationality Skills - Less Wrong

52 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 27 May 2011 09:57PM

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

Comments (257)

Sort By: Leading

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

Comment author: Dr_Manhattan 29 May 2011 03:00:28PM 6 points [-]

Since LW lore has grown wide, can you please at least point to the reference for the uninitiated?

Comment author: katydee 30 May 2011 06:05:46AM 8 points [-]

From Musashi:

"The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy’s cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him. More than anything, you must be thinking of carrying your movement through to cutting him.”

Comment author: Nornagest 30 May 2011 05:45:31AM *  1 point [-]

Pretty sure it's mentioned in Twelve Virtues of Rationality, which provides a decent summary in context -- although you should read Musashi's Book of Five Rings if you really want to absorb the concept. He's a lucid (if sometimes infuriatingly vague) writer, and there are several good translations floating around.

Comment author: atucker 30 May 2011 05:34:31AM 0 points [-]

I think this is one of the earlier mentions.