I’m a twenty-seven years old student doing a PhD in vegetation dynamics. I’ve been interested in science since forever, in skepticism and rationality per se for the last few years, and I was linked to LessWrong only a few months ago and was blown away. I’m frankly disconcerted by how every single internet argument I’ve gotten into since has involved invoking rationality and using various bits of LessWrong vocabulary, I think the last time I absorbed a worldview that fast was from reading “How the Mind Works”, lo these many years ago. So I look forward to seeing how that pans out (no, I do not think I’m being a mindless sheep—I don’t agree with everything Steven Pinker said either. I’m just in the honeymoon “it all makes SENSE !” phase).
I’ve got to say, I’m really grateful for this great resource and to the internet for giving me access to it. Next time an old geezer tells me about how awesome the 50s and 60s were I’ll bonk them over the head. Metaphorically.
What do I value ? 1) being right and 2) being good, in no particular order. I’m afraid I’m much better at the first one than the second, but reading posts here has gotten me to think a bit on how to integrate both.
Hello all !
I’m a twenty-seven years old student doing a PhD in vegetation dynamics. I’ve been interested in science since forever, in skepticism and rationality per se for the last few years, and I was linked to LessWrong only a few months ago and was blown away. I’m frankly disconcerted by how every single internet argument I’ve gotten into since has involved invoking rationality and using various bits of LessWrong vocabulary, I think the last time I absorbed a worldview that fast was from reading “How the Mind Works”, lo these many years ago. So I look forward to seeing how that pans out (no, I do not think I’m being a mindless sheep—I don’t agree with everything Steven Pinker said either. I’m just in the honeymoon “it all makes SENSE !” phase).
I’ve got to say, I’m really grateful for this great resource and to the internet for giving me access to it. Next time an old geezer tells me about how awesome the 50s and 60s were I’ll bonk them over the head. Metaphorically.
What do I value ? 1) being right and 2) being good, in no particular order. I’m afraid I’m much better at the first one than the second, but reading posts here has gotten me to think a bit on how to integrate both.
Welcome to LessWrong!