You're looking at Less Wrong's discussion board. This includes all posts, including those that haven't been promoted to the front page yet. For more information, see About Less Wrong.

Trevor_Blake comments on How could one (and should one) convert someone from pseudoscience? - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: Vilx- 05 October 2015 11:53AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (53)

You are viewing a single comment's thread.

Comment author: [deleted] 06 October 2015 11:40:13AM 9 points [-]
  1. Ask them the same question I suggest you ask yourself to be less wrong: "what evidence or argument would convince you this specific belief is in error or inconclusive?" If the answer is 'I don't know' then consider finding out. If the answer is 'none' then it's not an evidence or argument based choice so evidence or argument won't change anything. If the answer is 'this evidence / argument' then either the evidence / argument is there or it isn't. If it isn't then the claim is provisionally true, and in no way off limits to further questioning.

  2. Decide if your are talking to your friend or if you are talking to the abstraction of 'pseudoscience' and don't confuse the two.