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No. Part of the definition of a cult is an unquestionable dogma, which runs counter to the core ideas of science. Building a cult around known science (even if you understand the principles well enough to avoid engaging in cargo cult science) is going to slow progress.
Consider replacing "core ideas of science" with "core ideas of society" and I'll wager that's closer to the commonly-used meaning of "cult".
In response to
Every Cause Wants To Be A Cult
whose rallying cry was "Rationality! Reason! Objective reality!"
Not to disagree with your main point (I've seen cultishness even in mathematics, where we really do have objective reality), but aren't those cults whose banner is Rationality in a better position than those who aren't? They may be just as cultish on the inside, but they have publicly accepted a standard that makes then vulnerable to criticism they cannot just dismiss. Wouldn't that make them a bit more honest?
Same point: are we more honest at overcoming bias, because we have a type of discourse that leaves us vulnerable to arguments of bias in ways we can't ignore - or do we just become more skilled at rationalising?
That's a question that everybody here needs to ask themselves every time they post, if they're to fight the good fight against cult-entropy.
In response to
comment
by
on
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 15, chapter 84
Might be a Baby Boom effect, combined with high death rates from the wars. Basically, WWII still has visible effects.
In response to
comment
by
on
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 15, chapter 84
I think it's easy to forget that world events that might have had lasting visible effects in present day might have much bigger lasting effects in a world of extended lifespans and older parenting that is also taking place twenty one years ago.
So I guess what I'm saying is I agree?
In response to
comment
by
on
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 15, chapter 84
(nods) And the Fetusmouths were driven into isolated seclusion in the early 1200s due to ethical concerns, and also they were really annoying at baby showers.
In response to
comment
by
on
Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 15, chapter 84
Fetusmouth sounds to me remarkably like a synonym for "babyeater".
In response to
File Under "Keep Your Identity Small"
Not just politics, any kind of "us vs them" division.
Worth testing as to whether it occurs to different extents depending on what type of division it is, or how important the test subject believes that one difference to be.
I don't think this would be very convincing right after it showed that it's not only capable of lying, but will do so just for a good laugh.
The programmer believes that it's capable of lying for a good laugh...
It's called plummeting.
Falling. With style.
Aren't there stories of lucid dreamers who were actually able to show a measurable improvement in a given skill after practicing it in a dream? I seem to recall reading about that somewhere. If true, those stories would be at least weak evidence supporting that idea.
On the other hand, this should mean that humans raised in cultural and social vacuums ought to be disproportionately talented at everything, and I don't recall hearing of anything about that one way or the other, but then I can't imagine a way to actually do that experiment humanely.
I wish I could cite a source for this; assume there's some inaccuracy in the telling.
I remember hearing about a study in which three isolated groups were put in rooms for about one hour. One group was told to wiggle their index fingers as much as they could in that hour. One group was told to think hard about wiggling their index fingers for that hour, without actually wiggling their fingers. And the third group was told to just hang out for that hour.
The physical effects of this exercise were examined directly afterward, and the first two groups checked out (almost?) identically.
Strange...I count fourteen words...
I count thirteen.
Oh no.
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Great post. History's main supervillain has been the Devil -- unfortunately, the Rattlers inevitably decide that the Eagles do his dark bidding, and vice versa.
And for all that, The Devil is simply used as more rationalization for pack behavior and scapegoating.