byrnema comments on Theism, Wednesday, and Not Being Adopted - Less Wrong

56 Post author: Alicorn 27 April 2009 04:49PM

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Comment author: byrnema 28 April 2009 06:36:15PM *  3 points [-]

we all know how hard it is to climb out of those sorts epistemic holes once you've found yourself in one.

What is the relationship between being a good rationalist and having above average or exceptional intelligence? Is climbing out an epistemic hole something anyone can do?

It's not an idle question: it has an immediate consequence of whether or not we can fault Wednesday for being religious. Would it be an ethical failing, a failing of innate talent, or something else?

Comment author: smoofra 28 April 2009 08:05:36PM 2 points [-]

Innate talent helps, good teachers help, good parents help, good books help.

But luck helps more I think.

Most people only get one chance to get it right, if they're lucky. Wednesday probably won't even get that.