Eliezer_Yudkowsky comments on The Benefits of Rationality? - Less Wrong

18 Post author: cousin_it 31 March 2009 11:17AM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 01 April 2009 07:17:56AM 8 points [-]

I developed my Art in the course of trying intensely to untangle deep confusions and answer wrong questions. If you are trying to do something similar, then I should think and hope that reading through all my reams of advice will be a HUGE win.

Does it have other applications? Oh, some of it does, I should rather think. The art of clear thinking is inherently less specialized than, say, welding.

But my Art of rationality is confessedly incomplete, a strong punch without a hint of kicking. I have not been trying with all my strength to live a happy everyday life. Perhaps you are looking for some of the other pieces, yet to be developed?

But just realizing that this sort of thing can have an art of rationality, that can be based in cognitive science, is quite a hint; and for that matter, trying to invent that art will be something of a confusing question...

Comment author: cousin_it 01 April 2009 12:12:55PM *  5 points [-]

Your Art sounds convincing, but still you might have taken a wrong turn in developing it. How do you (and we) know without a concrete result?