taking actions even when they are based on a model of the world few people share seems bad. See Unilateralist’s curse
This depends a lot on the actions (and the world). If few people think cryonics will work out, but you do it anyway...oh no! You might live longer!
Some actions don’t seem dangerous.
If few people think the spread of disease can be reduced by washing hands, but you’re in charge of the hospital, and you make people do it, and see that the rate of patients dying (or getting sick) drops enormously, then why not continue? Why not roll it out to the rest of the hospital?*
Empiricism may march ahead of consensus, especially when there’s a lot of very low hanging fruit.*
*Historically this once included ‘wash your hands after conducting an autopsy, and especially before doing anything to help out with a pregnancy’.
Ah, yes absolutely! I should have specified my original claim further to something like “when it affects the whole world” and “a lot of people you’ve identified as rational disagree”.
This depends a lot on the actions (and the world). If few people think cryonics will work out, but you do it anyway...oh no! You might live longer!
Some actions don’t seem dangerous.
If few people think the spread of disease can be reduced by washing hands, but you’re in charge of the hospital, and you make people do it, and see that the rate of patients dying (or getting sick) drops enormously, then why not continue? Why not roll it out to the rest of the hospital?*
Empiricism may march ahead of consensus, especially when there’s a lot of very low hanging fruit.*
*Historically this once included ‘wash your hands after conducting an autopsy, and especially before doing anything to help out with a pregnancy’.
Ah, yes absolutely! I should have specified my original claim further to something like “when it affects the whole world” and “a lot of people you’ve identified as rational disagree”.