JoshuaZ comments on Je suis Charlie - Less Wrong

-20 [deleted] 15 January 2015 08:27AM

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Comment author: JoshuaZ 16 January 2015 01:18:42AM 0 points [-]

Wow, that link truly is a grim case. There were no references to further, proper, investigations.

Did you try hitting refresh?

But what has surprised me is that the quality of investigative material is actually rather good, for several conspiracy theories

It isn't hard to make material that looks like it is of high quality. Humans are really good at motivated cognition. The vast majority of the time, the standard explanation is correct.

Comment author: [deleted] 16 January 2015 01:31:23AM 0 points [-]

I, and so many others, may be completely bullocks on evaluating investigations, but how will this single out the investigations of conspiracy theories? It basically states that I can never acquire knowledge of (any) scientific findings.

Comment author: JoshuaZ 16 January 2015 01:35:15AM *  2 points [-]

Again, what are you calling knowledge? It seems like you are using a notion of knowledge which insists on extremely high certainty. Maybe taboo the word knowledge?

But as a general heuristic, something if it is commonly accepted by the scientific establishment it is much more likely to be true than a fringe position.

Comment author: [deleted] 16 January 2015 01:53:05AM 0 points [-]

I am curious about your answer to my question ".. but how will this single out the investigations of conspiracy theories?".

Comment author: JoshuaZ 16 January 2015 02:05:45AM 0 points [-]

If a position is a position that isn't in mainstream journals and is described as fringe by the mainstream press then it is an issue. If the subject needs its own journal to specifically push a position then it is in that category. If the position relies on assuming unknown technology exists (e.g. faster than light travel, plane sized holograms, nanothermite) then it is in that category.