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Jack comments on Attempt to explain Bayes without much maths, please review - Less Wrong Discussion

12 Post author: David_Gerard 06 August 2011 09:24AM

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Comment author: Jack 06 August 2011 11:21:20PM 5 points [-]

I don't think you've done enough work to defend the introduction of the concept of post-modernism, here. I suppose postmodernism does include the proposition that one cannot be certain of anything but there is no particular reason to adopt the addition baggage that comes with the concept. The proto-typical enlightenment philosopher, Hume was already there. So what does postmodernism add? The term, without any further explication makes this post very difficult to follow as I have no idea what exactly you mean.

Moreover, it seems to me there is a rather straightforward point of tension between postmodernism and Bayesianism, namely that Bayesian prescribes a uniquely rational way of structuring belief networks, which certainly looks like the kind of self-assured epistemological approach that prototypical postmodernists would resist.

I think what you're actually seeing is the complementarity of Bayesianism and Quinean coherantism/pragmatism. The latter, I suppose is closer to the postmodern tradition than, say, logical positivism. But it is a far, far, cry from the Rortian position that the only constraints on knowledge are conversational and socially constructed. Is your position that the restrictions Bayesianism places on the beliefs we hold are merely socially constructed?

Which is to say, if you want to examine the relationship between Bayesianism and other philosophies it really helps to actually identify the other philosophy instead of just talking about the vague and routinely contradictory clusterfuck that is postmodernism.

And in the right light Derrida can look like anything.

Comment author: David_Gerard 07 August 2011 04:10:24PM *  0 points [-]

I don't think I have either. Some variety of it was my starting point. And it's an eyecatching name, which may or may not be a feature (depending, I think, on how well I can justify it).

It is quite possible that I am just completely full of shit in this endeavour. It is also true that I could probably brazen my way through that.

As I attempt to level up in PM, I am becoming quite the non-fan of Derrida.