The problem is, excessively liking propositional knowledge over procedural is a bias that harms us every day. Though some information is directly useful, most of it is worthless.
Worthless to whom?
Passionate truth-seekers find enjoyment in their growing ability to see things as they are, in making the world make sense. It’s an autotelic activity for them. If the value sought is simply to understand a phenomenon, it’s not worthless.
Some people like watching TV; some people like reading about comonads. If you don’t starve to death because of it, and if there is nothing else you’d rather be doing than the task in question, fine! Go for it.
Harm to whom?
The harm seems to appear when you have an objective goal, project or task which is important from the perspective of your utility function, and then you jeopardize deadline or quality by avoiding to follow the required steps to complete it.
You don’t work objectively from the perspective of the end-product, consuming theory as necessary; instead, you diverge aimlessly. It may be a sign of risk-aversion and need for control — you can never screw up too much by reading books.
In any case, harm should be viewed in the light of your utility function.
Worthless to whom?
Passionate truth-seekers find enjoyment in their growing ability to see things as they are, in making the world make sense. It’s an autotelic activity for them. If the value sought is simply to understand a phenomenon, it’s not worthless.
Some people like watching TV; some people like reading about comonads. If you don’t starve to death because of it, and if there is nothing else you’d rather be doing than the task in question, fine! Go for it.
Harm to whom?
The harm seems to appear when you have an objective goal, project or task which is important from the perspective of your utility function, and then you jeopardize deadline or quality by avoiding to follow the required steps to complete it.
You don’t work objectively from the perspective of the end-product, consuming theory as necessary; instead, you diverge aimlessly. It may be a sign of risk-aversion and need for control — you can never screw up too much by reading books.
In any case, harm should be viewed in the light of your utility function.
fully agree with this.