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JTHM comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 24, chapter 95 - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: palladias 18 July 2013 02:23AM

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Comment author: JTHM 18 July 2013 03:54:34AM *  10 points [-]

I'm pretty sure that Quirrell DID just update. This chapter seems to be a pivotal moment in his character arc: a cynic learns that there really is such a thing as love and friendship in the world.

Comment author: linkhyrule5 18 July 2013 03:56:19AM 12 points [-]

Did he update on humanity in general, or Harry in particular?

Comment author: Fermatastheorem 18 July 2013 06:23:12AM 12 points [-]

I think probably the latter. His conclusion is "So you really do care" not "So other people aren't rational enough to try to ressurect their loved ones."

Comment author: hirvinen 18 July 2013 12:47:58PM 2 points [-]

From "So you do really care" and his well-established view that most people are painfully stupid, he should deduce also the latter, as it is more unlikely that Harry is both exceptionally rational and exceptionally caring unless he has a reason to believe that the former causes or at least strongly correlates with the latter.

Then again, someone who has a low opinion of others' intelligence should already believe that others are not rational enough to seek resurrection, even if they cared to want it.

Comment author: gjm 18 July 2013 06:39:26AM 6 points [-]

Or else he found it expedient to give Harry the impression that he now believes there are such things as love and friendship in the world.

(Let us suppose for the sake of argument that Q was and still is Voldemort. For H to bring him into all his plans for research might be a very, very, very bad idea.)

Comment author: buybuydandavis 19 July 2013 09:06:51AM 2 points [-]

That would be my interpretation.

If he thought Harry was a threat to destroy the world, why not just crush him? Sentimentality?

More likely Q concludes that Harry may do something he hadn't planned on, and wants in on the planning. He also likely sees Harry's resolve as a lever that could move the newly determined Harry in ways a less determined Harry could not be moved.