People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge • Hacker News Board

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#201

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:16 AM UTC

PakG1 wrote: post #186

Consultant32452 wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I always respond in layers. The first layer is to say I work in computers. If they want to know more, they'll ask. If there is a follow up question that doesn't make it clear they're tech savvy, I'll explain one level deeper. I work on the website for x company, or I help secure your credit card info at such and such back. It doesn't matter if you're front end, back end, dba, network, sysadmin, help desk, etc. Just s…

The key thing is knowing that their level of curiosity may not be what you prefer. I've come to terms that people often don't actually care about understanding what I do and would rather just make assumptions about it. If you can't accept that and let it be, you can become a very despondent person. :) And then when you try to correct their misunderstanding, you just make them unhappy too. Everyone loses.

[deleted]

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#202

Post by AmericanChopper » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:35 AM UTC

root_axis wrote: post #193

AmericanChopper wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Faith is a belief in something you can’t prove. The munchausen trilemma invalidates all logical proofs. As such, all forms of knowledge are based on unprovable axioms from which knowledge is derived. If you were to try generalise some of the axioms that form the foundation of scientific knowledge, you might say that ‘empirical evidence is a source of absolute truth’ or that ‘everything we don’t understand about the p…

What is your definition of "prove"?

Just the ordinary dictionary definition. Using evidence and arguments to establish a fact or truth.

Of course the arguments and evidence that you use to prove your truth must also be proven themselves, and so and and so forth. No matter what it is you’re trying to prove, there are only three possible outcomes. Circular reasoning, infinite regression, or stopping at an arbitrary point (usually described as an axiom). This is known as the munchausen trilemma.

Although this question has lead me to see that my previous argument is incomplete. It is possible to believe a truth without faith. That is, through ignorance. A failure to scrutinize your belief sufficiently to understand that it is based on an unprovable axiom, and is thus an act of faith. People who debate the merits of science vs religion tend to be ignorant of this, equally on both sides.

Nothing about what I’m arguing is even remotely controversial. It would be a part of any entry level course on logic at any university.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#203

Post by shitgoose » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:37 AM UTC

danielbigham wrote: post #67

One of the ways I think about humility is that it is the ability of a person to successfully integrate information that requires some non-trivial refactoring of one's internal model of the world. Refactoring can be a costly operation, so it makes sense that the mind shouldn't take on that task too often, especially if one's mind is more likely to suffer net harm from an unsuccessful or partial refactoring. However, i…

refactoring is a very appropriate term here. how is it bad or costly? it should be done constantly, every day. if i can make myself less full of shit at least a tiny bit today, i will take it.

having seen many characters in the line of duty, the clear pattern is - if someone is not afraid to say "i was wrong" or "i am not the smartest guy", then there is no doubt who is the smartest guy in the room.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#204

Post by chillwaves » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:44 AM UTC

AmericanChopper wrote: post #173

burtonator wrote: post #162

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I don't know" is often the best answer. I was listening to some Christian on a video criticizing atheists and saying something related to the god of the gaps fallacy. He commented something along the lines of "you have to have an answer to these things!" No. No you don't. You don't just invent some fairy tale just because you don't understand something. Often the best answer is "I don't know"

To be fair, both christians and atheists who are interested in debating each other tend to have a hard time understanding the limits of their knowledge. The criticism can be directed equally in both directions. The entire sum of scientific knowledge is based on unprovable axioms, just the same as the entire sum of religious knowledge is based on unprovable axioms. Faith is a belief in something you can’t prove, and p…

I don't consider this a fair description of the two realms of inquiry.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#205

Post by oh_sigh » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:47 AM UTC

bunderbunder wrote: post #114

oh_sigh wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be positive about that. Someone with more intellectual humility may be more likely to seek out more information and to continue learning than someone who doesn't.

I wouldn't be positive about that either. It could be that both are true, and create a virtuous cycle. Or it could be that neither is true, and it's really that both characteristics are engendered by having a curious temperament.

Sure, but I just want to note I never made the claim it was the case - I was just offering one possible alternative to what OP claimed.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#206

Post by AmericanChopper » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 2:55 AM UTC

chillwaves wrote: post #204

AmericanChopper wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair, both christians and atheists who are interested in debating each other tend to have a hard time understanding the limits of their knowledge. The criticism can be directed equally in both directions. The entire sum of scientific knowledge is based on unprovable axioms, just the same as the entire sum of religious knowledge is based on unprovable axioms. Faith is a belief in something you can’t prove, and p…

I don't consider this a fair description of the two realms of inquiry.

Of course. Choosing to value a set of beliefs that make the most sense to you is how we give meaning to our lives. We all have opinions about what makes sense and what doesn’t. The only thing we can’t do is prove anything to be an absolute truth.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#207

Post by glial » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:53 AM UTC

hangonhn wrote: post #27

billman wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

+1 for Yeats

You two might not realize how happy that makes me feel. It's like when I discovered how popular the Master and Margarita is on HN. Never underestimate the depth and diversity of interests among your peers!

Ha, I just finished that book after being turned on it by HN. Thanks, everyone!

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#208

Post by AmericanChopper » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 3:58 AM UTC

k_sze wrote: post #191

karmelapple wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Faith is a belief in something without evidence, correct? Science is rooted in empirical evidence. It may be with imperfect models and imperfect measurement, but there is indeed fairly reasonably-measured evidence.

The Faithful would also call just about anything “evidence”.

Faith is not belief in something without evidence, it’s belief in something without proof. The mere existence of evidence does not constitute proof.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

#209

Post by yourbandsucks » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:34 AM UTC

Isamu wrote: post #28

A questionnaire from the article: 1) I am willing to admit if I don't know something. 2) I like to compliment others on their intellectual strengths. 3) I try to reflect on my weaknesses in order to develop my intelligence. 4) I actively seek feedback on my ideas, even if it is critical. 5) I acknowledge when someone knows more than me about a certain subject. 6) If someone doesn't understand my idea, it's probably b…

I feel like for 8 and 9, the right answer is actually that you are uncomfortable and don't like it.

The only people who would deny those things are phonies who aren't in touch with themselves. Accept it, acknowledge it, account for the bias it brings. Then maybe one could work on it.

Re: People with Greater Intellectual Humility Have Superior General Knowledge

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Post by haecceity » Sat, Jun 08, 2019, 4:54 AM UTC

mjevans wrote: post #165

haecceity wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 6) If someone doesn't understand my idea, it's probably because they aren't smart enough to get it. (reverse) One of my high school teachers said something like: if someone doesn't understand your explanation, then you don't know it as well as you think you do.

It's also quite possible they lack the domain knowledge to receive a succinct explanation of the problem and evaluate if a solution actually solves it.

It's a classroom setting so the discussions are between peers with similar knowledge.