Reality has a surprising amount of detail (2017)

# · 🔥 290 · 💬 118 · 2 years ago · johnsalvatier.org · jger15 · 📷
It's tempting to think 'So what?' and dismiss these details as incidental or specific to stair carpentry. Again, you might think 'So what? I guess things are complicated but I can just notice the details as I run into them; no need to think specifically about this'. Another way to see that noticing the right details is hard, is that different people end up noticing different details. Do you remember the insights that were crucial in learning to ride a bike or drive? How about the details and insights you have that led you to be good at the things you're good at? The important details you haven't noticed are invisible to you, and the details you have noticed seem completely obvious and you see right through them. That's why if you ask an anti-climate change person "What could convince you you were wrong?" you'll likely get back an answer like "If it turned out all the data on my side was faked" or some other extremely strong requirement for evidence rather than "I would start doubting if I noticed numerous important mistakes in the details my side's data and my colleagues didn't want to talk about it". As you learn, notice which details actually change how you think.
Reality has a surprising amount of detail (2017)



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