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Prismattic comments on Doubt, Science, and Magical Creatures - a Child's Perspective - Less Wrong
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Ladies and gentlemen, I present the difference between instrumental and epistemic rationality:
Epistemic rationalist -- The tooth fairy is not real. I must do my part to make this common knowledge.
Instrumental rationalist -- If I allow this polite fiction to continue, I keep getting a dollar every time I lose a tooth.
Rational parents: After our child figures out the truth, we'll increase the benefits to $1.50.
That's what I plan to do if I ever have any children.
Or put another way, An Englishman, a Frenchman, and a Bell Labs Engineer (this was told around Bell Labs) were in some French African colony -- probably wherever Camus' The Stranger took place, and were rounded up by the police on some mistaken charges, tried, and found guilty. The Englishman was led to the guillotine, and, asked if he had any last words, said "God Save the Queen (or King, whichever)". The guillotine was released, but did not drop, and mysteriously hung there. The crowd shouted "It's a miracle, it's a miracle, you must release this man!", and the officials looked at each other, and agreed to release him. The Frenchman was led to the guillotine, and, asked if he had any last words, said "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity!". The guillotine was released, but did not drop, and mysteriously hung there. The crowd shouted "It's a miracle, it's a miracle, you must release this man!", and the officials looked at each other, and agreed to release him. The Bell Labs Engineer was led to the guillotine, and, asked if he had any last words, said "I think I see what's making it stick like that."
Since when did epistemic rationality demand making the truth common knowledge? It just means you should know what's true yourself.
It seems fair to consider epistemic hygiene part of epistemic rationality.
Your choice will depend on whether the vindication of truth is worth more or less than a finite and unsteady flow of one-dollar notes to you.