4 ms·
Reasoning based on cui bono is a hallmark of conspiracy theories.
by jhh 3y ago
Reasoning based on cui bono is a hallmark of conspiracy theories.
- paganel 3y agoThe alternative is "these guys don't know what they're doing, even if tens of billions of dollars are at stake". Which is to say, what's your alternative for a better explanation? (other than the "cui bono?" one, that is).
- flerchin 3y agoYour alternative explanation along with giant egos is pretty plausible.
- airstrike 3y ago> these guys don't know what they're doing, even if tens of billions of dollars are at stake also known as "never attribute to malice that which can be explained by incompetence", which to my gut sounds at least as likely as a cui bono explanation tbh (which is not to be seen as an endorsement of the view that cui bono = conspiracy...)
- financltravsty 3y agoEveryone always forgets there's two parts to Hanlon's razor: > Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity (1), but don't rule out malice. (2)
- freedomben 3y agoI don't actually think (2) is part of the razor[1]. If it is, then it doesn't make sense because (1) is an absolute (i.e. "never") which is always evaluated boolean "true", therefore statement (2) is never actually executed and is dead code. Nevertheless I agree with you and think (2) is wise to always keep in mind. I love Hanlon's Razor but people definitely should take it literally as written and/or as law. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanlon%27s_razor
- questinthrow 3y agoHaha yes, we should never look at the incentives behind actions. We all know human decision making is stochastic right?
- switch007 3y agoHaha yeah the world is just run by silly fools who make silly mistakes (oops, just drafted a law limited your right to protest - oopsie!) and just random/lucky investments.
- freedomben 3y agoPossibility is also a hallmark of conspiracy theories, yet we don't reject theories for being possible. This is an argumentum ad odium fallacy