Richard_Hollerith2 comments on Back Up and Ask Whether, Not Why - Less Wrong

32 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 06 November 2008 07:20PM

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Comment author: Richard_Hollerith2 08 November 2008 08:15:02PM 0 points [-]

Earlier on this page Eliezer writes,

I have sometimes been approached by people who say "How do I convince people to wear green shoes? I don't know how to argue it," and I reply, "Ask yourself honestly whether you should wear green shoes; then make a list of which thoughts actually move you to decide one way or another; then figure out how to explain or argue them . . .

That piece of advice is also in Eliezer's "Singularity Writing Advice" where I saw it in 2001. I decided to adhere to it and for what it is worth have never regretted the decision. It works as far as I can tell even for my outre moral beliefs.