The World of Null-A by Van Vogt may or may not have played a role in setting up the meme in my mind, “Rationalists ought to have superpowers, damn it!”
Also Isaac Asimov’s original Foundation trilogy.
Scooby-Doo seems like it theoretically ought to help. Every single episode, the supernaturalists are idiots, there’s a rational explanation. But it’s not something I remember as having had any influence on me.
I wonder what happens if an eleven-year-old watches Death Note. It’s not a children’s story, but if you want the battle of the dueling supergeniuses...
I’m fairly sure that I would have identified very strongly with Light if I saw it at eleven. On the other hand, at eight I would have identified with L, and now I identify with N, who reminds me of my eight year old self.
Anyhow, the moral of Death Note is “If we catch Kira, he is evil. If he rules the world, he is justice.” So, it’s useful as an example of confusing P(A|X) with P(X|A): rationalists should win, and “therefore” winners are rational.
ETA: That “being rational” equals “being justice” is Light’s (and L’s) conception, not mine. The creator of DN believes that almost every character in it is immoral.
The World of Null-A by Van Vogt may or may not have played a role in setting up the meme in my mind, “Rationalists ought to have superpowers, damn it!”
Also Isaac Asimov’s original Foundation trilogy.
Scooby-Doo seems like it theoretically ought to help. Every single episode, the supernaturalists are idiots, there’s a rational explanation. But it’s not something I remember as having had any influence on me.
I wonder what happens if an eleven-year-old watches Death Note. It’s not a children’s story, but if you want the battle of the dueling supergeniuses...
I’m fairly sure that I would have identified very strongly with Light if I saw it at eleven. On the other hand, at eight I would have identified with L, and now I identify with N, who reminds me of my eight year old self.
Anyhow, the moral of Death Note is “If we catch Kira, he is evil. If he rules the world, he is justice.” So, it’s useful as an example of confusing P(A|X) with P(X|A): rationalists should win, and “therefore” winners are rational.
ETA: That “being rational” equals “being justice” is Light’s (and L’s) conception, not mine. The creator of DN believes that almost every character in it is immoral.
If I recall correctly, they’ve stated that Light’s father is the only truly moral character.
Also, I suspect many intelligent people went through a Light Yagami stage when they were 11 -- I know I did.