Forwarded from Daily Rationality
Looking Back on Learning: A Journey in Rational Thinking
Reflections and Lessons from Two Years of Blogging
Have you ever looked back on something you've done and cringed at the mistakes you made? That's how I feel about my two-year blogging adventure. But here's the thing: if I didn't see those mistakes, it would mean I hadn't learned anything new. And learning is all about realizing our "oops" moments.
When I started writing, I aimed to tackle big, complex problems. But I missed the mark. I should have focused on helping people with their day-to-day challenges. It turns out the real trick is not just knowing the theory but practicing it in everyday life. That's where the true learning happens.
I also spent too much time discussing rational beliefs and not enough on rational actions. And I could have organized my content better, maybe even created a wiki to help readers follow along more easily.
I was pretty blunt back then, calling out ideas I thought were foolish, like homeopathy. I believed some ideas deserved ridicule to shake people from their beliefs. But now, I'd approach it with more respect. I've realized that mockery can create a culture of contempt, which isn't healthy.
Despite my blunders, I'm grateful that my readers have been kind and haven't used my words to mock others. I want to give a shout-out to Scott Alexander, a fantastic writer who's helped foster a positive community around these topics.
So, what was my goal with all this? I wanted to share a special way of thinking that isn't taught in schools. It's the kind of thinking that's about observing the world, not just making stuff up. It's about being able to admit when you're wrong and change course, which is crucial not just in science but in life.
Even with my mistakes, it seems my blog posts helped quite a few people. Our society doesn't teach us much about rational thinking or decision-making. So, it turns out that sharing my thoughts, even with their flaws, was better than sharing nothing at all.
Eliezer Yudkowsky, February 2015
#map_and_territory #predictably_wrong #preface #en
Source
Reflections and Lessons from Two Years of Blogging
Have you ever looked back on something you've done and cringed at the mistakes you made? That's how I feel about my two-year blogging adventure. But here's the thing: if I didn't see those mistakes, it would mean I hadn't learned anything new. And learning is all about realizing our "oops" moments.
When I started writing, I aimed to tackle big, complex problems. But I missed the mark. I should have focused on helping people with their day-to-day challenges. It turns out the real trick is not just knowing the theory but practicing it in everyday life. That's where the true learning happens.
I also spent too much time discussing rational beliefs and not enough on rational actions. And I could have organized my content better, maybe even created a wiki to help readers follow along more easily.
I was pretty blunt back then, calling out ideas I thought were foolish, like homeopathy. I believed some ideas deserved ridicule to shake people from their beliefs. But now, I'd approach it with more respect. I've realized that mockery can create a culture of contempt, which isn't healthy.
Despite my blunders, I'm grateful that my readers have been kind and haven't used my words to mock others. I want to give a shout-out to Scott Alexander, a fantastic writer who's helped foster a positive community around these topics.
So, what was my goal with all this? I wanted to share a special way of thinking that isn't taught in schools. It's the kind of thinking that's about observing the world, not just making stuff up. It's about being able to admit when you're wrong and change course, which is crucial not just in science but in life.
Even with my mistakes, it seems my blog posts helped quite a few people. Our society doesn't teach us much about rational thinking or decision-making. So, it turns out that sharing my thoughts, even with their flaws, was better than sharing nothing at all.
Eliezer Yudkowsky, February 2015
#map_and_territory #predictably_wrong #preface #en
Source