ABrooks comments on Rationality Quotes March 2012 - Less Wrong

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

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Comment author: [deleted] 07 March 2012 03:46:50PM *  2 points [-]

Real intellectuals shouldn't know the details of fictional worlds. They shouldn't know the private business of their neighbors. They shouldn't know more about sports than is necessary for casual conversation on the matter (though no less either). They shouldn't know how to lie, how to manipulate people, they shouldn't know much about how to make money, they shouldn't know much about concrete political affairs unless that is their business. They shouldn't know too much about food or the maintenance of their health.

Real intellectuals should be able to play an instrument, but not very well. They shouldn't know too much about crimes, mental disorders, disasters, diseases, or wars. They should know the broad strokes of history, but not the details unless that is their primary business.

Real intellectuals should enjoy music, but never study it, unless that is their primary business. Most essentially, real intellectuals shouldn't know what they don't have the time or inclination to know well.

Comment author: thomblake 07 March 2012 04:12:29PM *  1 point [-]

Is this meant to be funny?

Comment author: Will_Newsome 07 March 2012 04:24:39PM 4 points [-]

Seemed serious and somewhat reasonable to me.

Comment author: [deleted] 07 March 2012 04:14:05PM 0 points [-]

I'll take what I can get.