Peiter comments on Rational vs. Scientific Ev-Psych - Less Wrong

19 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 04 January 2008 07:01AM

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Comment author: Peiter 04 January 2008 10:39:31AM 1 point [-]

I agree with Virge. Evolutionary "explanations" of human behaviour abound, especially in the mainstream media. More often that not, these make no particular sense and seem to have been pulled out of someone's backside. For example, many ignore that the traits in question have to increase viable offspring to have an evolutionary effect. Therefore, it is simply reasonable to consider the source.

No psychics have ever performed under scrutiny. Therefore, a priori, claims of psychic powers are met with skepticism. And reasonably so, I'd say.