MrHen comments on A Parable On Obsolete Ideologies - Less Wrong

113 Post author: Yvain 13 May 2009 10:51PM

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Comment author: MrHen 14 May 2009 09:02:45PM 0 points [-]

I did not mean to imply that you were. I meant to demonstrate that this concept of obsolete ideology can discriminate between old theories that are just wrong and old theories that are still useful.

Ah, okay. I think that the distinction you make is very good point.

[T]he concept of obsolete ideology is not a fully general counter argument against any use of old theories that are inconsistent with newer theories.

This in particular is good to keep in mind. "Old" does not mean "bad" and even if something comes along and supersedes an older ideology, the older ideology can have its uses. Approximation is the current example. Are there any others?