Vaniver comments on Rationality Quotes October 2012 - Less Wrong

8 Post author: MBlume 02 October 2012 06:50PM

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Comment author: Vaniver 02 October 2012 01:58:53AM 12 points [-]

My reading of the quote is that empiricism is superior to rationalism (the old philosophical schools, not the sort we discuss here). If I have a proof that my bridge will hold a thousand pounds, and it breaks under a hundred, then the experiment trumps the proof.

Comment author: BerryPick6 02 October 2012 06:18:48PM 0 points [-]

If I have a proof that my bridge will hold a thousand pounds,

By "proof", do you mean experimental evidence, or armchair rationalization?

Comment author: MixedNuts 02 October 2012 07:06:25PM 2 points [-]

A correct mathematical proof based on an experimentally verified model of bridges and seemingly obvious assumptions about your particular bridge.

Comment author: BerryPick6 02 October 2012 07:14:03PM 0 points [-]

experimentally verified

That doesn't sound like the sort of thing a rationalist (in the sense Vaniver was using) would care for at all.