TimS comments on Open Thread, June 1-15, 2012 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: OpenThreadGuy 01 June 2012 04:01AM

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Comment author: TimS 12 June 2012 08:06:52PM 2 points [-]

The bigger problem with most historical analysis takes the following form:

1) Pick a historical thesis (usually because it supports one's pre-existing moral positions)
2) Find all historical evidence that supports that theory
3) Throw any remaining historical evidence in the trash

If you have successfully avoided that trap, congratulations. Society as a whole has not, and this community is not noticeably better than the greater societies we are draw from.