Re: New Age Angst

From: Anders Sandberg (nv91-asa@nada.kth.se)
Date: Fri Jun 06 1997 - 05:16:42 MDT


On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Len Flatley wrote:

> On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Robin Hanson wrote:
> > I quite agree regarding the value of critical thinking skills. But
> > note that logic is only the first of such skills to learn. Next is
> > statistics (esp. Bayesian stat.). And then game theory. And you
> > can't really have good critical skills without learning the equivalent
> > of an intro course in 20 major subjects.
>
> i wonder which 20 subjects.

Hmm, here is my personal list of subjects one ought to take intro
courses in to enhance one's sense of critical thinking (and to get a
wide knowledge base):

Biology
Chemistry
Economy
History
Mathematics
Medicine
Philosophy
Physics
Psychology

It is likely not complete, but a good beginning. The "hard" sciences
are useful to learn exact methods and the physical background, the
"soft" sciences force one to learn how to apply the scientific method
in less clear-cut situations, and philosophy and mathematics discuss
the basics of thinking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension!
nv91-asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~nv91-asa/main.html
GCS/M/S/O d++ -p+ c++++ !l u+ e++ m++ s+/+ n--- h+/* f+ g+ w++ t+ r+ !y



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 14:44:28 MST