Swimmer963 comments on Morality is Awesome - Less Wrong

86 [deleted] 06 January 2013 03:21PM

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Comment author: BerryPick6 11 January 2013 06:32:26PM 5 points [-]

Harry seems more awesome to me because he has a strong drive to get to the bottom of things-- not the same thing as intelligence, though it might be a trait that wouldn't be as interesting in an unintelligent character. (Or would it be? I can't think of an author who's tried to portray that.)

I would be fascinated to read a character who can Get Curious and think skeptically and reflectively about competing ideas, but is only of average intelligence.

Trying to model this character in my head has resulted in some sort of error though, so there's that...

Comment author: Swimmer963 12 January 2013 02:20:27PM 3 points [-]

I can imagine writing this character, because it's the way I feel a lot of the time... Knowing I read some important fact once but not being able retrieve it, lacking the working memory to do logic problems in my head and having to stop and pull out pen and paper, etc. I'm arguably of somewhat higher than average intelligence, but I'm quite familiar with the feeling of my brain not being good enough for what I want to do.

Comment author: BerryPick6 12 January 2013 02:34:47PM 0 points [-]

This is exactly what I was trying to describe, and this happens to me as well. If you ever do write such a figure, be sure to let me know, I'd like to read about them. :)

Comment author: Swimmer963 12 January 2013 02:49:19PM 2 points [-]

One of my previous novels somewhat touches on this. The main character is quite intelligent, but has grown up illiterate, and struggles with this limitation. If you want to check it out, see here.

Comment author: BerryPick6 12 January 2013 03:00:07PM 1 point [-]

Coincidences are funny: my name happens to be Asher.

I'll put this on my reading list.