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"Pessimists, on average, are probably smarter than optimists. They're also poorer." Given the complexity of the universe, it pays to be self-deluded...you may

"Pessimists, on average, are probably smarter than optimists. They're also poorer." Given the complexity of the universe, it pays to be self-deluded...you may experience more failure than the pessimist, but you will most likely benefit from a completely chance encounter that works out positively, when the pessimist will have written off the outcome and lost out on chance.

wongarsu 5y ago
The optimist that experiences more failure has the chance to learn from failure, and eventually succeed either because of that experience or because they have run out of ways to fail. Both optimism and pessimism can be healthy or self-destructive, but on average it's probably easier to have healthy optimism than to have healthy pessimism.
xvilka 5y ago
Not really. Self-delusion is so-called "soldier mindset" while realistic evaluation is the "scout mindset". You can be pessimistic or optimistic in both cases, they are orthogonal. I recommend a book by Julia Galef with the same name [1]. [1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42041926-the-scout-mindset https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42041926-the-scout-minds...
- qeternity 5y ago
  Thanks, just bought. Will give it a read.
  - leetrout 5y ago
    It is a very good read or listen on audiobook. Very interesting examples and points being made.
Shorel 5y ago
Some study said we try to avoid losses 2.5 times more than we value gains. If these traits were balanced, then we could be better prepared for the modern world. At the same time, it can be argued this bias would provide some protection against having nothing to eat for far too long in the wilderness, which could prove fatal.
podgaj 5y ago
> "Pessimists, on average, are probably smarter than optimists. They're also poorer." This is only true, I feel, under capitalism. Pessimism saves lives when you are living close to nature. Only the positive idiot does not tread lightly over a frozen lake or a bear infested forest. And they usually end up dead.

wongarsu 5y ago

The optimist that experiences more failure has the chance to learn from failure, and eventually succeed either because of that experience or because they have run out of ways to fail. Both optimism and pessimism can be healthy or self-destructive, but on average it's probably easier to have healthy optimism than to have healthy pessimism.

xvilka 5y ago

Not really. Self-delusion is so-called "soldier mindset" while realistic evaluation is the "scout mindset". You can be pessimistic or optimistic in both cases, they are orthogonal. I recommend a book by Julia Galef with the same name [1]. [1] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42041926-the-scout-mindset https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42041926-the-scout-minds...

qeternity 5y ago
Thanks, just bought. Will give it a read.
- leetrout 5y ago
  It is a very good read or listen on audiobook. Very interesting examples and points being made.

Shorel 5y ago

Some study said we try to avoid losses 2.5 times more than we value gains. If these traits were balanced, then we could be better prepared for the modern world. At the same time, it can be argued this bias would provide some protection against having nothing to eat for far too long in the wilderness, which could prove fatal.

podgaj 5y ago

> "Pessimists, on average, are probably smarter than optimists. They're also poorer." This is only true, I feel, under capitalism. Pessimism saves lives when you are living close to nature. Only the positive idiot does not tread lightly over a frozen lake or a bear infested forest. And they usually end up dead.