How does one prove this "Mediocrity Principle"? "Specialness" is in the realm of philosophy and from that perspective, this principle just comes across as a mellow form of nihilism. Telling students to filter all of science through the "we're not special" lens just biases them so that if there actually is something special, they will be blind to it.
Might I suggest as an alternative the "Keep an Open Mind Principle"?
The Mediocrity Principle
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Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#22I don't really understand what is being argued. Two statements are made:
> A: The mediocrity principle simply states that you aren't special.
> B: Most of what happens in the world is just a consequence of natural, universal laws.
The argument being that B implies A.
First this is self-contradictory: B implies B and nothing more.
What does he mean by "special". Are we talking about some mushy, subjective definition of "special". If that's the case, then it's a moot point. By that definition you're as special as someone thinks you are, including yourself. If your mom thinks you're special, you're special. That's what subjective means.
If that's not the case, by special, does he mean highly unlikely, finite, or unique? -- Math is infinite and governed by sets of universal rules, yet there are many unique ("special") mathematical patterns.
In this case, we don't know if we're special or unlikely because we don't know what the odds of us existing are. We don't know how common or uncommon intelligent life is.
"But intelligent life is not special, even if it were uncommon, because it's governed by the same universal laws as unintelligent dead matter."
Then, if our definition of special is not subjective, and uniqueness or unlikelihood does not imply specialness, then what is the definition of special that we're using here?
Or does he mean "governed by intent" (of a deity or purposeful universe). Now we've got a new problem, which is defining what intent is, and if there even is such a thing (which, if there isn't, the whole point is moot again).
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#23Counterpoint - humans are very much not mediocre, we really are special. No other species is as advanced as us, no other species is as capable as us and no other species is as awesome as us.
We may one day discover intelligent alien life, until then the blue planet really is special. Okay it may not look like much, but looks can be deceiving.
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#24"The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent. If we can come to terms with this indifference, then our existence as a species can have genuine meaning. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light." , Stanley Kubrick
"As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the d…
Nice quote! That's what the hero of The Stranger, thinks just before being executed.
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#25I don't really understand what is being argued. Two statements are made: > A: The mediocrity principle simply states that you aren't special. > B: Most of what happens in the world is just a consequence of natural, universal laws. The argument being that B implies A. First this is self-contradictory: B implies B and nothing more. What does he mean by "special". Are we talking about some mushy, subjective definition o…
> What does he mean by "special"
I think he means that the universe does not gain meaning by our existence. The universe will (or will not) be there regardless of whether we happen to exist or not, because our existence is just a fortunate combination of physical laws. Given a slightly different combination (the Sun being slightly further away from this planet, for example), you/we wouldn't exist at all, but the universe would still be there. Other forms of intelligent life may or may not exist elsewhere, but this still does not mean that the universe exist in order to have intelligent life. The universe will or will not exist because of the laws of physic; everything else will be subject to these laws, and so it will never be "special".
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#26Counterpoint - humans are very much not mediocre, we really are special. No other species is as advanced as us, no other species is as capable as us and no other species is as awesome as us. We may one day discover intelligent alien life, until then the blue planet really is special. Okay it may not look like much, but looks can be deceiving.
"and opposition to the mediocrity principle is one of the major linchpins of religion and creationism and jingoism and failed social policies."
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#27[deleted]
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#28Question - how could we use The Mediocrity Principle in our technology works, in our hacks, designs and developments?
There seems to be some fundamental opposition to the principle in the world we live and operate in:
User centered design implies that the User is special.
Business and marketing say that the Customer is always right.
Solutions that seek to make things better, to improve the lot may go against the principle as the universe doesn't care either way.
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#29Counterpoint - humans are very much not mediocre, we really are special. No other species is as advanced as us, no other species is as capable as us and no other species is as awesome as us. We may one day discover intelligent alien life, until then the blue planet really is special. Okay it may not look like much, but looks can be deceiving.
"and opposition to the mediocrity principle is one of the major linchpins of religion and creationism and jingoism and failed social policies."
Well that is awesome then - either I have to agree with him, or I am a nationalist. This is straight out of the What you can't say playbook.
Re: The Mediocrity Principle
#30Earlier quoted context omitted.
"and opposition to the mediocrity principle is one of the major linchpins of religion and creationism and jingoism and failed social policies."
Well that is awesome then - either I have to agree with him, or I am a nationalist. This is straight out of the What you can't say playbook.
Indeed - it's not very flexible! If anything the principle says that nothing is more important than anything else. Which is humbling and a good thought experiment, but I ask whether we can actually go about our lives using it.