“Carl Sagan (I think) said we should be open-minded, but not so open that our brains fall out. It’s even more important when discussing issues as morally fraught as torture, that we don’t open our minds so far that our souls fall out.
Well said.
Posted by: Eliezer Yudkowsky | September 16, 2007 at 06:07 PM”
What does that even mean? The quote and concept seem to distract from empirical inquiry and rational problem solving, rather than add to them. I’m not sure I see it as different in kind from “If it doesn’t fit, then you must acquit.”
“Carl Sagan (I think) said we should be open-minded, but not so open that our brains fall out. It’s even more important when discussing issues as morally fraught as torture, that we don’t open our minds so far that our souls fall out.
Well said.
Posted by: Eliezer Yudkowsky | September 16, 2007 at 06:07 PM”
What does that even mean? The quote and concept seem to distract from empirical inquiry and rational problem solving, rather than add to them. I’m not sure I see it as different in kind from “If it doesn’t fit, then you must acquit.”