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Essay argues against unsupported intuition in favor of empirical reasoning

This post argues that while Bayesian inference is a valid framework, relying on intuition or unsupported priors is not a rational approach to knowledge. The author uses a coin-flipping analogy to illustrate how one friend, Al, uses empirical evidence to form a probabilistic estimate, while another, Bri, makes a guess based on a strong gut feeling. Even when Bri's guess happens to be correct, the author contends that Al's method is more scientifically rigorous because it is grounded in available data and logical inference. AI

RANK_REASON The item is an opinion piece discussing philosophical approaches to knowledge and reasoning, not a factual report on an event.

Read on LessWrong (AI tag) →

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Essay argues against unsupported intuition in favor of empirical reasoning

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0 / 100
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Commentary
The item is an opinion piece discussing philosophical approaches to knowledge and reasoning, not a factual report on an event.
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opinion, other
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Low
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136 days old
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COVERAGE [1]

  1. LessWrong (AI tag) TIER_1 English(EN) · DanielW ·

    The Skeptic, the Bayesian, Empiricism and Claims to Know:

    <blockquote><p><i><span>Hypotheses non fingo</span></i></p></blockquote><p><span>-Sir Isaac Newton</span></p><blockquote><p><span>A wise man, therefore, proportions his belief to the evidence.</span></p></blockquote><p><span>-David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding<…