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ciphergoth comments on Some potential dangers of rationality training - Less Wrong
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Another potential negative is a reduced capacity for strategic self-deception.
To the extent that a brain baptized in rationality is magically consistency-enforcing, yes.
I get a giddy thrill out of believing things like "if I tell myself X, it will (without changing anything I know about the world) affect the way this part of my brain functions". Perhaps that's a vice I need to subdue, but I doubt it.
I'm not sure I grasp what your point is - could you try stating it again directly, rather than via sarcasm please? Thanks!
I'm surprised you thought that was sarcastic. It's really stating exactly my partial agreement with you. Doing it again, I'd replace "magically" by "perfectly". I don't think what you said is stupid.
I realize you only said "potential", but I don't think any training will impair the efficacy of strategic self-deception at all, except to the extent that a rational person isn't going to tolerate "afraid to think about that" feelings.
The only value I see in self-deception is in modifying affect toward people/things/plans - altering our decision making and our direct-line physical responses (consciously faking some things is costly - facial expression, tone of voice, etc).
The only obstacle I've noticed in myself in so consciously self-deceiving/affirming is "I don't do that" self-embarrassment hesitation to try - part of my self-identification as "rational".
My intuition in support of believing that total consistency enforcement isn't trainable (beyond personal experience) is that coordination amongst brain submodules is limited, and any training probably reaches some of the submodules only.
Ah yes, it was the "magically" that threw me - thanks!