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Sequence Exercise: first 3 posts from "A Human's Guide to Words"

Folktheory, RobinZ, and I are designing exercises to go with the sequences. Here’s my first one. Please make suggestions as to how this could be improved or augmented and what to do the same/differently in future exercises. My current plan is to do more from the sequence "A Human's Guide to Words." This post will be edited to in response to suggestions. Exercise for “The Parable of the Dagger," "The Parable of Hemlock," and "Words as Hidden Inferences” This exercise is meant to be worked on a computer. You can fill it out either in your head or by copying the text into a word processor. Please do not read ahead of where you are working. Where applicable, answers are posted in rot13. 1. List several properties which are common to crows. Here’s a picture of one to help you out: Some of the characteristics you may have put down are “black,” “bird,” “can fly,” and “caws.” People in the time of Aristotle believed things were logically 100% certain to have all the properties that were part of their definition. For instance, they said they could be 100% certain that Socrates was mortal because humans are mortal "by definition." Now, thinking like an Aristotelian and using those four characteristics, is that bird in the linked picture a crow? Answer: Lbh pna’g fnl jurgure vg vf be abg. Lbh unira’g frra vg syl be urneq vg pnj. 2. Now, suppose I (assume I’m completely trustworthy) were to tell you that there is a crow behind that door. If your brain worked like Aristotle thought, you would be certain that it had all the properties listed above. Think of two ways that you could be wrong. Some possible answers: Gur pebj pbhyq or n ungpuyvat, jvgubhg erq srnguref be gur novyvgl gb syl. Vg pbhyq or na nyovab. Vg pbhyq or obea zhgr. If you were able to think of

44Apr 16, 2011

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How I changed my exercise habits

In June 2013, I didn’t do any exercise beyond biking the 15 minutes to work and back. Now, I have a robust habit of hitting the gym every day, doing cardio and strength training. Here are the techniques I used to do get from not having the habit to having...

Apr 13, 201528

Online Course in Evidence-Based Medicine

The Foundation for Blood Research has created an online course in Evidence-Based Medicine, aimed at "advanced high school science students, college students, nursing students, and 1st or 2nd year medical students." It focuses on evaluating research papers and applying statistics to medical diagnosis. I have taken this course, and it...

Dec 2, 20118

[Link]: GiveWell is aiming to have a new #1 charity by December

GiveWell, LessWrong's most cited organization for optimal philanthropy, is currently re-evaluating its charity rankings with the goal of naming a new #1 charity by December 2011. Essentially, VillageReach (the current top charity) has met all of its short-term funding needs, to the point where it no longer has the greatest...

Nov 29, 201129

Rationality Quotes July 2011

Here's the new quotes thread. Rules: * Please post all quotes separately, so that they can be voted up/down separately. (If they are strongly related, reply to your own comments. If strongly ordered, then go ahead and post them together.) * Do not quote yourself. * Do not quote comments/posts...

Jul 3, 20115

Introducing… The Less Wrong Forum!

A while ago, some posters mentioned that it would be good if LW had a forum. Earlier this week I was planning a role-playing game with some other users and decided that a forum would be a good place for us and other groups to play online. And the Less...

Jul 1, 20113

Help Request: Cryonics Policies

I’m hoping to sign up for cryonics when I can afford it, and I’m not sure which agency and treatment plan to get. As of this Cryonics institute document, whole-body suspension with Alcor costs $200,000. Neurosuspension costs $80,000. With the cheaper but possibly lower quality Cryonics Institute, whole-body suspension costs...

Jun 18, 201118

Sequence Exercise: "Extensions and Intensions" from "A Human's Guide to Words"

Exercise for “Extensions and Intensions” Give an intensional definition for each of the following words: 1. Shoe 2. Hope 3. Wire 4. Green 5. Politician 6. Apple Now rank them from easiest to define to hardest. Describe how you would give an extensional definition of the same words: 1. Shoe...

Apr 17, 201119

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Sequence Exercise: first 3 posts from "A Human's Guide to Words"

[Link]: GiveWell is aiming to have a new #1 charity by December

How I changed my exercise habits

Reading the Sequences before Starting to Post: Costs and Benefits

Normal_Anomaly

How I changed my exercise habits

Online Course in Evidence-Based Medicine

[Link]: GiveWell is aiming to have a new #1 charity by December

Rationality Quotes July 2011

Introducing… The Less Wrong Forum!

Help Request: Cryonics Policies

Sequence Exercise: "Extensions and Intensions" from "A Human's Guide to Words"

Sequence Exercise: first 3 posts from "A Human's Guide to Words"

[Link]: GiveWell is aiming to have a new #1 charity by December

How I changed my exercise habits

Reading the Sequences before Starting to Post: Costs and Benefits

How I changed my exercise habits

Online Course in Evidence-Based Medicine

[Link]: GiveWell is aiming to have a new #1 charity by December

Rationality Quotes July 2011

Introducing… The Less Wrong Forum!

Help Request: Cryonics Policies

Sequence Exercise: "Extensions and Intensions" from "A Human's Guide to Words"