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Decius comments on Falsifiable and non-Falsifiable Ideas - Less Wrong Discussion

-1 Post author: shaih 19 February 2013 02:24AM

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Comment author: Decius 19 February 2013 07:35:10AM 1 point [-]

The purpose of a thought experiment is to make a prediction about a real experiment. The thought experiment is as real as any other abstract object or mental process, and the prediction it makes is as real as a prediction made by any means.

And if believing a belief which is known to be false results is a higher output on your utility function, you have a nonstandard utility function. Rationalists who have radically different utility functions are very dangerous things.