[extropy-chat] Elvis Sightings

[Ben Goertzel]

Well, I make my own decisions regarding what to spend my time on, of course.

I have chosen to work on AI, not on psi research, for example.   But, 
because I have not put huge time and thought into evaluating psi 
research, I refrain from coming to a definitive conclusion on it.

-- Ben G


BillK wrote:
> On 2/11/07, Ben Goertzel <ben at goertzel.org> wrote:
>   
>> A truly skeptical attitude, IMO, would involve not making strong
>> assertions (positive OR negative) about things you have not carefully
>> researched yourself.
>>
>> Knee-jerk negative reactions not grounded in research are no more
>> intelligent, scientific or laudable than knee-jerk positive ones.
>>
>>     
>
>
> While in an ideal world this would be true, life is too short.
>
> This is the same 'logic' that says fraudsters should be allowed to
> market whatever junk they feel might con money out of gullible folks.
> It would therefore be up to every individual to spend significant time
> investigating absolutely every product they might wish to buy.
>
> Again, life is too short.
>
> And, of course many (most?) people do not have the knowledge or
> training to properly investigate stuff. Especially stuff where the
> truth is deliberately concealed.
>
> In our modern society we have to rely on other people doing the
> investigation. That's what government labs, the police and other
> agencies are supposed to do.
>
> And peer-reviewed journals and referees provide this function for science.
>
> BillK
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