Description
Book SynopsisOur reasoning evolved not for finding the truth, but for social bonding and convincing. The best logical methods humans have created provide no path to truth, unless something is assumed as true from the start. Other than that, we only have methods for attempting to measure uncertainty. This book highlights the consequences of these facts for scientific practice, and suggests how to correct the mistakes we still make. But even our best methods to measure uncertainty might require infinite resources to provide solid answers. This conclusion has important consequences for when and how much we can trust arguments and scientific results. The author suggests ways we can improve our current practices, and argues that theoretical work is a fundamental part of the most effective way to do science.
Table of ContentsCognition and knowledge / 2. Individual Reasoning / 3. Groups and Ideas / 4. A need for standards / 5. Logic and Artificial Worlds / 6. Probabilistic induction and its limits / 7. Decisions / 8. Dangers of deciding on ideas / 9. Theories and Philosophy of Science / 10. Auxiliary hypothesis / 11. Solomonoff machines / 12. On Arguments and fallacies / 13. As many as possible / 14. Quantum Mechanics / 15. Current problems in physics / 16. The Humanities / 17. Data and theories / 18. Conclusion
