If the iron approaches your face, and you believe it is hot, and it is cool, the Way opposes your fear. If the iron approaches your face, and you believe it is cool, and it is hot, the Way opposes your calm.
What if the iron is hot, but if you flinch, you’ll be shot? Fear of the iron won’t help you stay steady, and neither will fear of the bullet.
(Note: IAWYC, I’m just taking this opportunity to nitpick the silly notion that “truth” determines or even should determine your emotions. Emotions should be chosen to support your desired actions and results.)
My fear of the bullet would cause me to want to avoid it, which would mean I must ensure that I do not flinch. The decision to flinch or not to flinch is in the hands of low-level circuitry in my brain, and the current inputs to that circuitry will tend to produce a flinch. So I would be well advised to change those inputs if I can, by visualizing myself on a beach, curled up in bed, sitting at my computer writing comments on Less Wrong, or some other calming, comforting environment. If this is a form of self-deception, it is one I am comfortable with. It is of the same kind that I practiced as a member of the bardic conspiracy, and I don’t think that hurt my epistemic rationality any.
What if the iron is hot, but if you flinch, you’ll be shot? Fear of the iron won’t help you stay steady, and neither will fear of the bullet.
(Note: IAWYC, I’m just taking this opportunity to nitpick the silly notion that “truth” determines or even should determine your emotions. Emotions should be chosen to support your desired actions and results.)
My fear of the bullet would cause me to want to avoid it, which would mean I must ensure that I do not flinch. The decision to flinch or not to flinch is in the hands of low-level circuitry in my brain, and the current inputs to that circuitry will tend to produce a flinch. So I would be well advised to change those inputs if I can, by visualizing myself on a beach, curled up in bed, sitting at my computer writing comments on Less Wrong, or some other calming, comforting environment. If this is a form of self-deception, it is one I am comfortable with. It is of the same kind that I practiced as a member of the bardic conspiracy, and I don’t think that hurt my epistemic rationality any.
Another shot in the battle over priority of epistemic or instrumental rationality?