Val also used an upside-down W-diagram with the two worlds at the top and the four beliefs at the bottom, to emphasize the idea that the world is there first, and is fixed, and we have only a choice of what to believe within a fixed world, not a choice of which background world to live in.
I don’t know what a “W-diagram” is (and a simple Google search didn’t help), so I don’t see how this works. Perhaps a picture could help explain.
I don’t know either, but I observe that an upside down W resembles a segment of a conditional tree with two points at the top and either three or four at the bottom, which sounds similar to what the OP is describing.
I found the above two comments particularly funny because I had just spent the last couple minutes reading this with the vague feeling that “an upside-down W” would be better described as some other letter but I had been continuously procrastinating actually figuring out what that letter was.
Ah, I think I see it. So on top it has the possible worlds, and on the bottom each world branches into the possible consequences in that world of having each of the possible beliefs.
To clarify, I actually think of it with two upside-down ‘V’ shapes. I imagine one off to my left in the world where X is true and observe the two possible outcomes based on what I believe is true in that world, and then I look off to my right to see the upside-down ‘V’ in the world where X is not true and consider the alternatives.
I should also add that I have to put all four representations in near-mode. I view this whole process as a way of getting my brain to emotionally get that yes, it’s better to have true beliefs even if they describe a world I’d rather not be in.
(To clarify, in case this isn’t obvious: I’m Valentine.)
(I had been quietly hoping to see if it’s possible to change my account name from “Mercurial” to “Valentine,” but I planned on doing this in the ephemeral land of “later.” This just works. Thanks for pointing that out!)
I don’t know what a “W-diagram” is (and a simple Google search didn’t help), so I don’t see how this works. Perhaps a picture could help explain.
I don’t know either, but I observe that an upside down W resembles a segment of a conditional tree with two points at the top and either three or four at the bottom, which sounds similar to what the OP is describing.
… an M...?
Why yes! Also a sigma on it’s side.
I found the above two comments particularly funny because I had just spent the last couple minutes reading this with the vague feeling that “an upside-down W” would be better described as some other letter but I had been continuously procrastinating actually figuring out what that letter was.
Ah, I think I see it. So on top it has the possible worlds, and on the bottom each world branches into the possible consequences in that world of having each of the possible beliefs.
Yep.
An upside down W looks like an M to me.
To clarify, I actually think of it with two upside-down ‘V’ shapes. I imagine one off to my left in the world where X is true and observe the two possible outcomes based on what I believe is true in that world, and then I look off to my right to see the upside-down ‘V’ in the world where X is not true and consider the alternatives.
I should also add that I have to put all four representations in near-mode. I view this whole process as a way of getting my brain to emotionally get that yes, it’s better to have true beliefs even if they describe a world I’d rather not be in.
(To clarify, in case this isn’t obvious: I’m Valentine.)
I think you should just register the username “Valentine” and use it, now before you acquire more comment history under this name.
Point taken. Done.
(I had been quietly hoping to see if it’s possible to change my account name from “Mercurial” to “Valentine,” but I planned on doing this in the ephemeral land of “later.” This just works. Thanks for pointing that out!)
Pretty sure that the software doesn’t allow for name changes, but an admin can give you karma to a new account if you really want it.
I don’t think I care that much about karma except for the “can post articles” limit, and that doesn’t seem too difficult to reach.