Vaniver comments on Causal Diagrams and Causal Models - Less Wrong

61 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 12 October 2012 09:49PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Article Navigation

Comments (274)
Tags: seq_epistemology causality math

Comments (274)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: Vaniver 12 October 2012 07:59:07PM *  13 points [-]

Taking a "contentious" point and resolving it in to a settled fact

! From the article:

(which is totally made up, so don't go actually believing the conclusion I'm about to draw)

Comment author: handoflixue 12 October 2012 08:20:24PM 3 points [-]

P.S. When quoting two people, it can be useful to attribute the quotes. I initially thought the second quote was your way of doing a snarky editorial comment on what I'd said, not quoting the article...

Comment author: Vaniver 12 October 2012 08:59:46PM *  1 point [-]

Thanks for the suggestion, I've edited my comment to make it clearer.

Comment author: handoflixue 12 October 2012 08:19:08PM 6 points [-]

Eliezer's data is made up, but all the not-made-up research I've seen supports his actual conclusion. The net emotional result was the same for me as if he'd used the actual research, since my brain could substitute it in.

Perhaps I am weird in having this emotional link, or perhaps I am simply more familiar with the not-made-up research than you.

Comment author: Vaniver 12 October 2012 09:04:33PM *  11 points [-]

The net emotional result was the same for me as if he'd used the actual research, since my brain could substitute it in.

I understand. I think it's important to watch out for these sorts of illusions of transparency, though, especially when dealing with pedagogical material. One of the heuristics I've been using is "who would I not recommend this to?", because that will use social modules my brain is skilled at using to find holes and snags in the article. I don't know how useful that heuristic will be to others, and welcome the suggestion of others.

perhaps I am simply more familiar with the not-made-up research than you.

I am not an expert in nutritional science, but it appears to me that there is controversy among good nutritionists. This post also aided my understanding of the issue. I also detail some more of my understanding in this comment down another branch.

EDIT: Also, doing some more poking around now, this seems relevant.

Comment author: handoflixue 12 October 2012 10:34:03PM 1 point [-]

Ahh, that heuristic makes sense! I wasn't thinking in that context :)

Powered by Reddit Powered by Reddit