The strength of a theory is not what it allows, but what it prohibits; if you can invent an equally persuasive explanation for any outcome, you have zero knowledge.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
In our skulls, we carry around 3 pounds of slimy, wet, greyish tissue, corrugated like crumpled toilet paper. You wouldn't think, to look at the unappetizing lump, that it was some of the most powerful stuff in the known universe.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the incredible capabilities of the human brain despite its unimpressive appearance.
Eliezer Yudkowsky's quote reflects on the human brain, describing its physical characteristics in an unflattering manner while simultaneously highlighting its immense power and potential. It serves as a reminder that outward appearances can be deceiving, and beneath the surface of something that may seem insignificant lies profound complexity and capability, especially when it comes to the mind's ability to think, create, and innovate.
Themes
BrainPowerPotentialMindIntelligence
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speech about the untapped potential within us.
More from Eliezer Yudkowsky
All quotes βYour strength as a rationalist is your ability to be more confused by fiction than by reality. If you are equally good at explaining any outcome, you have zero knowledge.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
If our extinction proceeds slowly enough to allow a moment of horrified realization, the doers of the deed will likely be quite taken aback on realizing that they have actually destroyed the world. Therefore I suggest that if the Earth is destroyed, it will probably be by mistake.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
[...] intelligent people only have a certain amount of time (measured in subjective time spent thinking about religion) to become atheists. After a certain point, if you're smart, have spent time thinking about and defending your religion, and still haven't escaped the grip of Dark Side Epistemology, the inside of your mind ends up as an Escher painting.
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The obvious choice isn't always the best choice, but sometimes, by golly, it is. I don't stop looking as soon I find an obvious answer, but if I go on looking, and the obvious-seeming answer still seems obvious, I don't feel guilty about keeping it.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
When something is universal enough in our everyday lives, we take it for granted to the point of forgetting it exists.
Eliezer YudkowskyRead
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Most people are excited about themselves. Personal genome will deliver for inexpensively something about science to which you can relate. Just like computers are becoming something to which you can relate. It should be even easier to relate to your own biology, and I hope that will be one of the ways we get broader literacy in science.
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That which is measured improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.
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Facts are the air of scientists. Without them you can never fly.
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