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Brillyant comments on What false beliefs have you held and why were you wrong? - Less Wrong Discussion

28 Post author: Punoxysm 16 October 2014 05:58PM

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Comment author: Brillyant 18 October 2014 08:01:07PM 0 points [-]

What about an environmental or a neurological or a psychological explanation? What's so special about genes as a causative factor?

I'd imagine you'd be right. (Sufficient belief in an afterlife might do it.) Though I don't know if I'd rule out the genes.

The main reason for this is because people constantly misunderstand it.

Nonetheless.

It certainly is the right way to think about evolution, and I also think the figure of speech is nice to have if not misunderstood.

Exactly my thought.

Comment author: hyporational 18 October 2014 08:33:13PM 1 point [-]

Though I don't know if I'd rule out the genes.

They are an important factor in everything the soldier does, for instance they set limits to what kinds of beliefs he can have given his experiences. Genes don't do anything at all without the environment they interact with however.

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