beoShaffer comments on A Kick in the Rationals: What hurts you in your LessWrong Parts? - Less Wrong

24 Post author: sixes_and_sevens 25 April 2012 12:12PM

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Comment author: David_Gerard 26 April 2012 04:07:30PM -1 points [-]

Oh, Deleuze. D+G are interesting and thought-provoking but all but impenetrable. Imagine a textbook written in the style of an experimental novel. Surprise! That's actually your textbook. As with Derrida, I suggest you start with others' synopses, not the originals. Alternately, if you don't have any actual reason to read it (such as actually having a use for something that could reasonably be termed "critical theory"), just throwing them against the wall will likely save a lot of time.

Comment author: sixes_and_sevens 26 April 2012 04:40:13PM 1 point [-]

What uses do people normally have for something termed "critical theory"?

Comment author: beoShaffer 26 April 2012 04:57:26PM 4 points [-]

Rent seeking, signaling(mostly to pretty specific groups), fun.

Comment author: David_Gerard 26 April 2012 10:16:08PM 0 points [-]

Pretty much. I have always tried to keep in mind that the actual justification of criticism is turn people onto good stuff and warn them off bad stuff.

Comment author: Normal_Anomaly 27 April 2012 06:42:56PM 0 points [-]

It can also be justified by helping people who liked or didn't like something understand why, so they can seek or avoid those qualities in other works.

Comment author: David_Gerard 27 April 2012 07:26:12PM -1 points [-]

Oh yeah, turning noise into music. I think that's covered, though.