GabrielDuquette comments on Rationality Quotes September 2012 - Less Wrong

7 Post author: Jayson_Virissimo 03 September 2012 05:18AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 02 September 2012 06:19:19PM 1 point [-]

We must remember that, strictly speaking, "formal" does not mean merely "rigorous", but "according to form". Meaning need be ascribed only to the result of a formal process. It is not needed to guide the process itself. We ascribe meaning to intermediate formal states primarily, nay solely, to reassure ourselves.

Guy Steele

Comment author: simplicio 02 September 2012 07:32:28PM 1 point [-]

Can you elaborate on what this is getting at?

Comment author: [deleted] 02 September 2012 07:53:32PM *  2 points [-]

I think the message is pretty similar to this quote. Put another way: be careful to not favor the letter of the law over the spirit of the law. Which is hard because brains prize anything that spares them work, and the letter of the law is (I'm guessing) more compressible than its spirit.

Comment author: RomanDavis 02 September 2012 07:47:40PM *  1 point [-]

You shouldn't be decieved by the use of the word formal as an applause light.

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