Vulture comments on No Universally Compelling Arguments in Math or Science - Less Wrong

30 Post author: ChrisHallquist 05 November 2013 03:32AM

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Comment author: Vulture 08 November 2013 11:39:39PM 0 points [-]

For any supposed UCA, one can construct a situation in which a mind can rationally choose to ignore it and therefore achieve its objectives better, or at least not be majorly harmed by it.

I'm not convinced that this is the case for basic principles of epistemology. Under what circumstances could a mind (which behaved functionally enough to be called a mind) afford to ignore modus ponens, for example?

Comment author: somervta 08 November 2013 11:57:05PM *  1 point [-]

Well, it doesn't have to, it could just deny the premises.

But it could deny modus ponens in some situations but not others.

Comment author: Vulture 09 November 2013 12:10:10AM 0 points [-]

Hmm. Like a person who is so afraid of dying that they have to convince themselves that they, personally, are immortal in order to remain sane?

From that perspective it does make sense.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 09 November 2013 07:55:26AM -2 points [-]

Under what circumstances could a mind (which behaved functionally enough to be called a mind) afford to ignore modus ponens, for example?

That depends on what you mean by "behave functionally like a mind". For starters it could only ignore it occasionally.

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