Qwake comments on Rationality Quotes August 2014 - Less Wrong

8 Post author: RolfAndreassen 04 August 2014 03:12AM

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Comment author: Qwake 06 August 2014 06:59:22PM -1 points [-]

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.

-Buddha

Comment author: TheMajor 06 August 2014 08:06:44PM *  2 points [-]

You mean never really change your mind? Sounds kinda dumb...

If the last half had said "own reason or common sense" all would be fine, I think.

Comment author: Qwake 10 August 2014 06:46:52AM 3 points [-]

I interpreted it to mean not to believe information simply because you hold the source of the information in high regard. It is very possible to change your mind and keep within your own reason and common sense.

Comment author: wedrifid 10 August 2014 06:26:07AM 3 points [-]

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.

-Buddha

This is the first time I've been prompted to advocate the merit of this related quote.

Comment author: Lumifer 06 August 2014 08:17:35PM 3 points [-]

Isn't that, pretty much, a classic description of confirmation bias?

Comment author: Stabilizer 06 August 2014 08:12:27PM *  2 points [-]

That one's a misquote. The original is:

Now, Kalamas, don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, ‘This contemplative is our teacher.’ When you know for yourselves that, ‘These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness’ — then you should enter & remain in them.

Not exactly a rationality quote, is it? Here is another famous misquote of the same passage.

Comment author: RichardKennaway 06 August 2014 08:22:39PM 3 points [-]

Not exactly a rationality quote, is it?

I think it is, and it has been so regarded on LessWrong several times already, first here.