I’d take an issue with “undesirable”, the way I understand it. For example, the conclusion that traveling FTL is impossible without major scientific breakthroughs was quite undesirable to those who want to reach for the stars. Similarly with “dangerous”: the discovery of nuclear energy was quite dangerous.
If travelling faster than light is possible, I desire to believe that travelling faster than light is possible; If travelling faster than light is impossible, I desire to believe that travelling faster than light is impossible; Let me not become attached to beliefs I may not want.
They are indeed. You seem to have added a level of indirection not present in the original statement. One statement is about this world, the other is about possible worlds.
I’d take an issue with “undesirable”, the way I understand it. For example, the conclusion that traveling FTL is impossible without major scientific breakthroughs was quite undesirable to those who want to reach for the stars. Similarly with “dangerous”: the discovery of nuclear energy was quite dangerous.
If travelling faster than light is possible,
I desire to believe that travelling faster than light is possible;
If travelling faster than light is impossible,
I desire to believe that travelling faster than light is impossible;
Let me not become attached to beliefs I may not want.
Something not (currently) possible can still be desirable.
FTL being impossible is undesirable if you want to go to the stars.
The conclusion that “FTL is impossible” is undesirable if and only iff FTL is possible.
The two conditions are very different.
They are indeed. You seem to have added a level of indirection not present in the original statement. One statement is about this world, the other is about possible worlds.
Shouldn’t it read
“FTL is impossible” is undesirable if and only if FTL is possible.”
as it stands it reads “FTL is impossible” is undesirable if and only if and only if (iff) FTL is possible.
Actually, it should be “FTL is impossible” is undesirable if and only if FTL is possible.”
Facepalms okay this is why I need to proofread everything I write
Thanks
Shouldn’t it really be “Believing that FTL is impossible is undesirable iff FTL is possible”?
You seemed to be doing something clever with quotes, but mostly that made it hard to read. :P
The author originally added an extra f to the last if in the original post rendering it as “if and only if and only if” instead of “if and only if”