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Paul Graham, like nearly everyone in today's politics, fails to appreciate the near-universal validity, at least when it comes to social and economic policy, of

Paul Graham, like nearly everyone in today's politics, fails to appreciate the near-universal validity, at least when it comes to social and economic policy, of Ron's First Law: All extreme positions are wrong. I realize this is tongue-in-cheek, but never forget: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation One could say that the modern world is largely a result of continuous middle-ground reforms that have built up into in an unfathomable and pathological state. Some radicalism might indeed be in order.

ZenoArrow 11y ago
> "I realize this is tongue-in-cheek, but never forget: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation " "Vladimir Bukovsky points out that the middle ground between the Big Lie of Soviet propaganda and the truth is a lie, and one should not be looking for a middle ground between disinformation and information.[2] According to him, people from the Western pluralistic civilization are more prone to this fallacy because they are used to resolving problems by making compromises and accepting alternative interpretations, unlike Russians who are looking for the absolute truth." Seeking absolute truth is a fool's errand. To use a physical analogy, truth is not a single point, it's a range. If you seek absolute truth you'll blind yourself to the range of possibilities.
- HSO 11y ago
  > truth is not a single point, it's a range Uh, that really depends on the domain. I agree that politics is the art of compromise but that does not mean there are no facts and logic.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    Tell me a fact.
    - HSO 11y ago
      ZenoArrow just asked me to tell him or her a fact.
      - ZenoArrow 11y ago
        That's one possible truth. Another possible truth is that someone else asked you that question using ZenoArrow's account.
        HSO 11y ago
        Ok, now you're just being silly. I will not waste more time on this thread.
        ZenoArrow 11y ago
        Another option: I could be a bot. Truth involves an element of interpretation. Truth depends on your frame of reference. You believe I'm wasting your time, but I may not be, it's up to you to choose.

ZenoArrow 11y ago

> "I realize this is tongue-in-cheek, but never forget: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_to_moderation " "Vladimir Bukovsky points out that the middle ground between the Big Lie of Soviet propaganda and the truth is a lie, and one should not be looking for a middle ground between disinformation and information.[2] According to him, people from the Western pluralistic civilization are more prone to this fallacy because they are used to resolving problems by making compromises and accepting alternative interpretations, unlike Russians who are looking for the absolute truth." Seeking absolute truth is a fool's errand. To use a physical analogy, truth is not a single point, it's a range. If you seek absolute truth you'll blind yourself to the range of possibilities.

HSO 11y ago
> truth is not a single point, it's a range Uh, that really depends on the domain. I agree that politics is the art of compromise but that does not mean there are no facts and logic.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  Tell me a fact.
  - HSO 11y ago
    ZenoArrow just asked me to tell him or her a fact.
    - ZenoArrow 11y ago
      That's one possible truth. Another possible truth is that someone else asked you that question using ZenoArrow's account.
      - HSO 11y ago
        Ok, now you're just being silly. I will not waste more time on this thread.
        ZenoArrow 11y ago
        Another option: I could be a bot. Truth involves an element of interpretation. Truth depends on your frame of reference. You believe I'm wasting your time, but I may not be, it's up to you to choose.