Post by God's Work Experience Student on Jan 14, 2007 17:11:35 GMT
Imagine you are walking in the wild and come across what looks like a big rock painted with the following words:
I may look like an ordinary painted rock, but I'm actually a conscious mind. I know about you and your life, and I want to tell you: from the point of view of your values, you should commit suicide. You may have good arguments against your suicide, and I will listen to any arguments you offer, but I know of very good arguments in favor of suicide. I will listen, but if these words have not changed, then my conclusion has not changed.
You may think you are smarter or know more about this topic than a rock, even a rock that can paint words. And I admit that is true of most rocks. But I am not a random rock. I am a honest rock that tries hard not to be overconfident, and that understands how your opinion embodies information that I cannot see directly. I would not say this to most people. I have carefully considered the possibility that you may be right, and yet I remain confident that your best choice is suicide.
from Overcoming Bias www.overcomingbias.com/2007/01/disagree_with_s.html (via Econlog econlog.econlib.org/archives/2007/01/the_incomparabl.html)
