Thou shalt never engage in solipsism or defeatism, nor wallow in ennui or existential angst, or in any other way declare that thy efforts are pointless and that exerting thyself is entirely without merit. For just as it is true that matters may never get to the point where they cannot possibly get any worse, so is it true that no situation is impossible to improve upon. Verily, the most blessed of silver linings is the fact that the inherent incertitude of one’s own beliefs also implies that there is never cause for complete hopelessness and despair.
Absolute-certainty/universal applicability red flag raised.
Silver-lining claim red flag raised.
And by far, most importantly: map-territory conflation red flag raised.
Some possible situations truly can’t be improved upon. The fact that you must always be uncertain about whether you are really in one is no help. Just a guarantee that in such a situation a rationalist will always have a little bit of false hope.
Okay, I acknowledge that “no situation is impossible to improve upon” is not strictly speaking true for literally every conceivable situation, but if ever there is a time where it’s acceptable to leave out the ol’ BOCTAOE for the sake of prose, I’d say a post including this many thees and thous would be it.
I don’t think I conflated map and territory though. The statement “There is never cause for complete hopelessness and despair” is a policy recommendation (read it as: “complete hopelessness and despair is never useful”), not a statement about the territory.
I think “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” is much better than wanting to optimize everything.
Absolute-certainty/universal applicability red flag raised.
Silver-lining claim red flag raised.
And by far, most importantly: map-territory conflation red flag raised.
Some possible situations truly can’t be improved upon. The fact that you must always be uncertain about whether you are really in one is no help. Just a guarantee that in such a situation a rationalist will always have a little bit of false hope.
Upvoted anyway, most of these are good.
Okay, I acknowledge that “no situation is impossible to improve upon” is not strictly speaking true for literally every conceivable situation, but if ever there is a time where it’s acceptable to leave out the ol’ BOCTAOE for the sake of prose, I’d say a post including this many thees and thous would be it.
I don’t think I conflated map and territory though. The statement “There is never cause for complete hopelessness and despair” is a policy recommendation (read it as: “complete hopelessness and despair is never useful”), not a statement about the territory.
I think “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” is much better than wanting to optimize everything.