To tell someone they're wrong, first tell them how they're right

Re:To tell someone they're wrong, first tell them how they'r... by coldtea on Tuesday September 13, 2016 @05:18AM (#12486581)

>I have come into many conversations with intelligent people who somehow place faith in front of evidence.

Which can be a very intelligent and rational thing to do. It all depends on the end goal ("discover how the world actually works" vs "calm your soul through belief in a higher power", etc.).

People can do very stupid things (dangerous to them, to the detriment of their health, social relations, etc) in pursuit of evidence. And very smart things based on faith.

Again, it depends on the end goal.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:To tell someone they're wrong, first tell them how they'r... by AstralStorm on Tuesday September 13, 2016 @12:50PM (#12490041)

If the goal is irrational, the method to achieve it does not matter.

Ex falso quod libet.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:To tell someone they're wrong, first tell them how they'r... by coldtea on Wednesday September 14, 2016 @09:14AM (#12496498)

>If the goal is irrational, the method to achieve it does not matter.

That's actually patently false. I might have an irrational goal of driving a Ferrari while pouring ketchup on my head, but not all methods are equally capable of realising it.

And of course, if I break into a bank and steal money as the method to get the Ferrari I could be put to jail (either before or after realizing my dream) -- so the method absolutely does matter.

>Ex falso quod libet

That is about logical statements -- it says nothing about methods of realising a goal, except if your goal is to build correct logical propositions.

[ Parent | on HN ]