Jakinbandw comments on Welcome to Less Wrong! (2012) - Less Wrong

25 Post author: orthonormal 26 December 2011 10:57PM

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Comment author: Jakinbandw 24 May 2012 03:59:37PM 0 points [-]

I think this is called "behaving rationally". I understand "rationality" as using reason to my benefit.

Thus my point that sometimes you should not question one of your own beliefs is preserved. You agree that it would be the rational thing to do in some situations.

As far as "bad" goes, I don't have a ready definition.

If you can't explain what bad is, then I am unable to discuss this with you. You might have a good definition, or you might be just saying that whatever makes you mad is automatically bad. I can't know, so I can't form any arguments about it.

Comment author: electricfistula 24 May 2012 05:38:41PM 0 points [-]

If you can't explain what bad is, then I am unable to discuss this with you

Bad is causing harm to people who don't deserve it. Convincing someone in the existence of hell is harmful - you are theatening them with the worst thing possible, convincing someone of a lie to compel them to serve the chruch through donations of time or money is harmful, convincing someone that they are innately sinful is harmful psychologically, convincing someone that morality is tied to religious institution is harmful. Children are least deserving of harm and so harming them is bad.