I follow the argument here, but I’m still mulling over it and I think by the time I figure out whether I agree the conversation will be over. Something disconcerting struck me on reading it, though: I think I could only follow it having already read and understood the Metaethics sequence. (at least, I think I understood it correctly; at least one commenter confirmed the point that gave me the most trouble at the time)
While I was absorbing the Sequences, I found I could understand most posts on their own, and I read many of them out of order without much difficulty. But without that extensive context I think this post would read like Hegel. If this was important to some argument I was having, and I referenced it, I wouldn’t expect my opponent (assuming above-average intelligence) to follow it well enough to distinguish it from complicated but meaningless drivel. You might consider that a problem with the writing if not the argument.
Evidence search: is there anyone here who hasn’t read Metaethics but still understood Eliezer’s point as Eliezer understands it?
I had almost exactly the same feeling as I was reading it. My thought was, “I’m sure glad I’m fluent in LessWrongese, otherwise I wouldn’t have a damn clue what was going on.” It would be like an exoteric Christian trying to read Valentinus. It’s a great post, I’m glad we have it here, I am just agreeing that the terminology has a lot of Sequences and Main prerequisites.
That’s something: posts presuppose too much. Words are hidden inferences, but most newbies don’t know where to begin or if this is worth a try. For example, this sequence has causality as a topic to understand the universe, but people need to know a lot before eat the cake(probability, math logic, some Pearl and the sequences).
I love the word “Unclipperific.”
I follow the argument here, but I’m still mulling over it and I think by the time I figure out whether I agree the conversation will be over. Something disconcerting struck me on reading it, though: I think I could only follow it having already read and understood the Metaethics sequence. (at least, I think I understood it correctly; at least one commenter confirmed the point that gave me the most trouble at the time)
While I was absorbing the Sequences, I found I could understand most posts on their own, and I read many of them out of order without much difficulty. But without that extensive context I think this post would read like Hegel. If this was important to some argument I was having, and I referenced it, I wouldn’t expect my opponent (assuming above-average intelligence) to follow it well enough to distinguish it from complicated but meaningless drivel. You might consider that a problem with the writing if not the argument.
Evidence search: is there anyone here who hasn’t read Metaethics but still understood Eliezer’s point as Eliezer understands it?
I had almost exactly the same feeling as I was reading it. My thought was, “I’m sure glad I’m fluent in LessWrongese, otherwise I wouldn’t have a damn clue what was going on.” It would be like an exoteric Christian trying to read Valentinus. It’s a great post, I’m glad we have it here, I am just agreeing that the terminology has a lot of Sequences and Main prerequisites.
That’s something: posts presuppose too much. Words are hidden inferences, but most newbies don’t know where to begin or if this is worth a try. For example, this sequence has causality as a topic to understand the universe, but people need to know a lot before eat the cake(probability, math logic, some Pearl and the sequences).