From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Dec 16 2002 - 12:42:50 MST
--- "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com> wrote:
> This year, tell your little children about the Fairy of Doubt, who
> brings presents only to those children who don't believe in him;
> and be sure to relate the heartwarming story of little Sally, who
> almost started believing in the Fairy of Doubt, but was saved from
> an unhappy Newtonmas by the Competing Hypothesis.
Is the Fairy of Doubt named Thomas? For those of an Xian leaning who
want to teach their kids science but also what a decent guy
Hoerkeimer's brother was, you could demonstrate that the Apostle Thomas
(known as Doubting Thomas) was the first scientist. He doubted Jesus'
resurrection until proven by scientific, experimental, evidence (i.e.
sticking his finger through the wounds). His testament, found in the
Nag Hammadi, is generally considered to be the more accurate of the
testaments.
The problem with your proposal of the Fairy of Doubt is that kids
should continue to not believe in him (is it a him?) even after
confronted by the evidence of his existence in the form of presents.
You'll wind up raising kids who don't believe NASA ever sent men to the
moon, and other such foolish things.
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