“The people I know who seem to make unusual efforts at rationality, are unusually honest, or, failing that, at least have unusually bad social skills.” PeopleKnowsSeemsSocialEffortFailingHonestSkillsUnusualRationalitySocial Skills Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Litmus test: If you can't describe Ricardo's Law of Comparative Advantage and explain why people find it counterintuitive, you don't know enough about economics to direct any criticism or praise at "capitalism" because you don't know what other people are referring to when they use that word.” PeopleIfsKnowsEnoughUseLawCapitalismAdvantageEconomicsDirectCriticismTestsPraiseReferringComparative Advantage Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“A burning itch to know is higher than a solemn vow to pursue truth. To feel the burning itch of curiosity requires both that you be ignorant, and that you desire to relinquish your ignorance.” KnowsFeelsDesireIgnoranceHigherCuriosityIgnorantPursueBurningVowSolemn Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“Why does any kind of cynicism appeal to people? Because it seems like a mark of maturity, of sophistication, like you’ve seen everything and know better. Or because putting something down feels like pushing yourself up.” PeopleKnowsFeelsKindDoeSeemsLike YouMarkAppealsMaturityPushingCynicismSophisticationPush Yourself Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“- Every time someone cries out in prayer and I can't answer, I feel guilty about not being God. - That doesn't sound good. - I understand that I have a problem, and I know what I need to do to solve it, all right? I'm working on it. Of course, Harry hadn't said what the solution was. The solution, obviously, was to hurry up and become God.” KnowsNeedsFeelsSaidI CanProblemCoursesSoundPrayerAnswersCrySolutionsSolveGuilty Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
“I ask the fundamental question of rationality: Why do you believe what you believe? What do you think you know and how do you think you know it?” ThinkingKnowsBelieveAsksFundamentalsRationalityYou Think You Know Author:Eliezer Yudkowsky
