satt comments on Wrong Questions - Less Wrong

34 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 08 March 2008 05:11PM

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Comment author: satt 16 April 2013 07:58:49PM 0 points [-]

What do you think you are confused about?

About the reason the universe exists. I'm using "confusion" as shorthand for not having an explanation that feels adequate on a gut level (which leads to a sensation of confusion), whether or not that confusion is justified.

You have grounds for thinking the question has no answer, but those are not per se grounds for thinking there was never a question.

I don't doubt the question's existence. I doubt the question is worth asking.

Comment author: PrawnOfFate 16 April 2013 08:09:41PM 0 points [-]

I don't doubt the question's existence. I doubt the question is worth asking.

Because?

Comment author: satt 16 April 2013 08:25:37PM 0 points [-]

Because I already know the three possible answers that question can have, and I already know none of them will feel adequate. As my only motivation for asking the question would be getting an answer that feels adequate, there's no point in asking it.

Comment author: PrawnOfFate 17 April 2013 01:48:40AM 0 points [-]

Realising that you can't answer it can set boundaries on your knowledge.

Comment author: satt 17 April 2013 10:01:36PM 0 points [-]

My conclusion that I can't answer it follows from my existing knowledge of those boundaries, however, so I don't learn novel boundaries from that conclusion.