lessdazed comments on Community roles: teachers and auxiliaries - Less Wrong

7 Post author: calcsam 22 June 2011 10:52AM

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Comment author: SilasBarta 23 June 2011 12:42:01PM *  -1 points [-]

Isn't that an argument from ignorance? You can't think of anything that you think would both be effective and not be ridiculed, so you conclude it doesn't exist?

No, it's an argument from observing repeated occurrence of those who demonstrably, effectively gauge women's preferences, and seeing the people doing so ridiculed irrespective of their evidence of success. That doesn't count as an argument from ignorance.

Comment author: lessdazed 24 June 2011 01:38:05AM 1 point [-]

As one's relevant knowledge approaches infinity, the weaknesses in an argument from incredulity/ignorance approach zero. So I don't deny you have much relevant knowledge and I don't think that this fallacy is as bad as most others, such as begging the question, etc. But I think your argument still fits the form, and I think that this is one fallacy smart people have to be especially careful of, as the smarter they are the more relevant knowledge they have. Also, people who can reason well are not as susceptible to totally vacuous forms of argument, so this is more important by comparison (perhaps second to the fallacy fallacy, or motivated stopping).