...the utility of a thought experiment is inversely proportional to the size of its departure from reality.
-- Daniel Dennett, Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking
Are we sure about this? Einstein's idea of riding along with a light beam was super-useful and physically impossible in principle. Whereas the experiment I just thought of where I pour my cup of tea on my trousers I can almost not be bothered to do.
Another month has passed and here is a new rationality quotes thread. The usual rules are:
And one new rule: