Sheaman3773 comments on "I don't know." - Less Wrong

33 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 21 December 2006 06:27PM

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Comment author: Sheaman3773 26 January 2011 01:56:28AM 0 points [-]

Assuming that I did not miss anything, what is wrong with phrasing your best guess as your best guess when you give it to the inquiring person? e.g.:

"How many apples are in a tree outside?"

"I'd guess/think/suppose/estimate 10-1000."

At which point they can either proceed, knowing that you gave no guarantees for the information, or inquire further to determine your certainty and then proceed.

A lot of people would take a definite answer as an indication of direct knowledge. Is it rational to assume that no one has direct knowledge when given a definite answer?