From: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Date: Mon Feb 19 2001 - 08:40:07 MST
Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
> Zeb seems to believe that these people do not think about their
> beliefs in a logical way and do not try to resolve the
> inconsistencies they find. I believe that these people, and most
> people, do think about their beliefs, and they do try to resolve
> inconsistencies. I think it is too convenient to dismiss people as
> irrational as an excuse not to debate their objections on their terms
> using their facts.
I think you're both projecting your own cognitive methods onto others. I
myself have found that true believers will notice inconsistencies, and
logically resolve inconsistencies, but will selectively notice only those
inconsistencies that they can solve. Thus causing them to honestly say:
"This is a beautiful theory, in every way compatible with science and the
scientific method; it resolves all inconsistencies..."
-- -- -- -- --
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
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