"Even if I had an objective proof that you don't find it unpleasant when you stick your hand in a fire, I still think you’d pull your hand out at the first opportunity." -- John K Clark
"So often when one level of delusion goes away, another one more subtle comes in its place." -- Rational Buddhist
"Your denial of the importance of objectivity amounts to announcing your intention to lie to us. No-one should believe anything you say." -- John McCarthy
"How exactly does one 'alter reality'? If I eat an apple have I altered reality? Or maybe you mean to just give the appearance of altering reality." -- JoeDad
"Promoting less than maximally accurate beliefs is an act of sabotage. Don't do it to anyone unless you'd also slash their tires." -- Black Belt Bayesian
... neither beliefs nor acts of belief, nor decisions, nor even preferences, are reasonable or rational except in the sense that they are reached by procedures or methods that are reasonable or rational. (The phrase 'rational belief' is rather like the phrase 'fast food'.)
David Miller
Miller, David (2005), 'Induction: Problem Solved'. Out of Error: Ashgate).
The rational process? - Brain electrodynamics... as solid as Maxwell's equations. Two different scientists can be exposed to the same natural world. One hypothesises “It is TRUE that A is a property of the natural world” and the other hypothesises “It is FALSE that A is a property of the natural world”. Both have arrived at this state by the same basic set of above equations and different brain dynamics trajectories resulting from their individuated self-hood, life history and current circumstances. Both are ‘rational’ because their brains are healthy, not because their propositions are true. End of Story.
"Even if I had an objective proof that you don't find it unpleasant when you stick your hand in a fire, I still think you’d pull your hand out at the first opportunity."
-- John K Clark
"So often when one level of delusion goes away, another one more subtle comes in its place."
-- Rational Buddhist
"Your denial of the importance of objectivity amounts to announcing your intention to lie to us. No-one should believe anything you say."
-- John McCarthy
"How exactly does one 'alter reality'? If I eat an apple have I altered reality? Or maybe you mean to just give the appearance of altering reality."
-- JoeDad
"Promoting less than maximally accurate beliefs is an act of sabotage. Don't do it to anyone unless you'd also slash their tires."
-- Black Belt Bayesian