Spectral_Dragon comments on Rationality Quotes March 2012 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: Thomas 03 March 2012 08:04AM

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Comment author: Spectral_Dragon 06 March 2012 06:04:56PM 1 point [-]

Thanks for clearing that up! As far as I can tell, however, all subjective knowledge is based on interpretations of the objective. We can all be wrong, but what is, is. We experiment to figure out what is in the first place, before we can try to form calculations, no? It would be more of something like "look at the territory first, else you might fall and break your neck if your map's wrong". I feel like I'm missing something painfully obvious here, though. Where am I going wrong here?

Comment author: Ezekiel 06 March 2012 11:33:40PM 0 points [-]

"What is, is" is a true statement, and one would do well to bear it in mind. My objection was to the assertion (as perceived by me) that we - as rationalists - can claim to deduce everything we know from that simple fact. We can't, and it's a flaw I don't think we pay enough attention to.

Comment author: Spectral_Dragon 07 March 2012 08:20:47PM 0 points [-]

Maybe we should, then. I've always percieved it as we can potentially deduce everything from... Well, not just that fact, but the assumption that what is is, and we can only do our best to interpret it. We'll most likely never be completely right, I know damn well I'm not, but I understand your reasoning, anyway. What would in your view be impossible to deduce, then?