From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Fri Jul 27 2001 - 21:25:56 MDT
From: "Harvey Newstrom" <mail@HarveyNewstrom.com>
> > Or, to test if thinking is incorrect, look at its results.
> > Incorrect thinking
> > is that which doesn't work. Come to think of it, we already have
> > a system that
> > can identify incorrect thinking... it's called science.
>
> This sounds good, but even systems have to be interpreted by people. Has
> cryonics produced results? Has nanotech produced results? Has life
> extension produced results? Someone has to interpret the value of potential
> results. Even these scientific technologies are controversial with many
> scientists claiming that they do not and never will produce results. There
> will always be disagreements. I still fear one parson's science being
> forced onto others. There is no one-true-science any more than there is
> one-true-religion
Yes, I think science has produced magnificent results. I don't believe in the
concept of "one person's science" because AFAIK there's only one scientific
methodology, and it relies on rigor and reason.
To the extent any group (including extropians) dismisses science, they become
susceptible to incorrect thinking, irrational (though popular) beliefs, and
cult memes that doom them to eventual failure. I don't fear a system that
accurately identifies incorrect thinking. I welcome it, and I applaud its
successful results. As for religion, the reason there is no
"one-true-religion" is that they are all untrue.
--J. R.
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, and ego.
Everything that can happen has already happened, not just once,
but an infinite number of times, and will continue to do so forever.
(Everything that can happen = more than anyone can imagine.)
We won't move into a better future until we debunk religiosity, the most
regressive force now operating in society.
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