One of the most important parts of intellectual progress is learning to change your mind. The first step of changing your mind is often that creeping, niggling doubt, followed by realizing that you were wrong about something. Here's three readings on being wrong, and an exercise to practice that often painful realization, in a small way and in a low pressure situation. Without this skill, how can you debate an important issue or confront a challenging topic? You might argue long after it's clear to others that you've lost, because admitting it feels like defeat and defeat is unthinkable.
The first lesson any martial artist learns is often how to fall. There are ways to make the landing easier, but they all start from the knowledge that falling isn't the worst thing in the world.
Audio versions of each Sequences post are available on LessWrong: look for the speaker symbol.
One of the most important parts of intellectual progress is learning to change your mind. The first step of changing your mind is often that creeping, niggling doubt, followed by realizing that you were wrong about something. Here's three readings on being wrong, and an exercise to practice that often painful realization, in a small way and in a low pressure situation. Without this skill, how can you debate an important issue or confront a challenging topic? You might argue long after it's clear to others that you've lost, because admitting it feels like defeat and defeat is unthinkable.
The first lesson any martial artist learns is often how to fall. There are ways to make the landing easier, but they all start from the knowledge that falling isn't the worst thing in the world.
Audio versions of each Sequences post are available on LessWrong: look for the speaker symbol.
Required Reading:
The Importance of Saying Oops: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wCqfCLs8z5Qw4GbKS/the-importance-of-saying-oops
Is That Your True Rejection: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TGux5Fhcd7GmTfNGC/is-that-your-true-rejection
The Proper Use of Doubt: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/43PTNr4ZMaezyAJ5o/the-proper-use-of-doubt
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