2 ms·
Hanlon's Razor should be more well-known. I like to modify it and call it Hanlon's Scythe: "In the absence of clear evidence, don't automatically attribute to
by pmarreck 7y ago
Hanlon's Razor should be more well-known.
I like to modify it and call it Hanlon's Scythe:
"In the absence of clear evidence, don't automatically attribute to malice, that which can be trivially attributed to any other cause"
- steverb 7y agoWe always phrased it as "Presume good intent."
- rmdashrfstar 7y agoWho's we?
- HarryHirsch 7y agoThat's fine. Let's all forgive drunk drivers, they just want to get home, no matter how much carnage they cause. It's a stupid phrase that enables all sorts of black stupidity.
- wwwwewwww 7y agoAbsence of malice doesn't absolve from responsibility. The mental model is still accurate in your example.
- yjftsjthsd-h 7y agoYou've taken it a half-step too far, but yes; if you assume that drunk drivers are, in fact, not setting out to comment manslaughter, then you can see what causes it and push for taxis/uber and actually get people off the road. Or you can assume malice, demonize them and end up like MADD.