Eugine_Nier comments on Rationality Quotes November 2012 - Less Wrong

6 [deleted] 06 November 2012 10:38PM

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Comment author: Eugine_Nier 17 November 2012 04:45:49AM 4 points [-]

Sure, but in traditional societies reflection on sacred matters is officially discouraged

That some didn't stop Christian theologians from doing an awful lot of reflection on sacred matters.

Comment author: wedrifid 17 November 2012 11:31:23AM 1 point [-]

That some didn't stop Christian theologians from doing an awful lot of reflection on sacred matters.

The sacred is a territory that a caste claims for themselves. The edict is about preventing outsiders from impinging on their turf, not one of preventing all from doing the reflection.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 17 November 2012 11:31:36PM 2 points [-]

Modern scientists tend to take a similar attitude to outsiders who impinge on their turf.

Comment author: wedrifid 18 November 2012 01:01:35AM 1 point [-]

Modern scientists tend to take a similar attitude to outsiders who impinge on their turf.

Exactly what I was thinking of as I wrote the comment. Scientists and Doctors are certainly priestly castes.

Comment author: Multiheaded 17 November 2012 01:56:11PM 0 points [-]

But here the Pope is predicting how the "people" would react, presumably applying his cynicism and savvy.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 18 November 2012 08:40:12PM 1 point [-]

My point is that over time the Church has acquired a decent working model of how humans behave in large groups.