http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/ Extraordinary claims. Ordinary investigations. Wed, 16 May 2012 18:43:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/comment-page-1/#comment-1915 Jedi Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:19:26 +0000 http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/#comment-1915 How Cute!- Jedi Squirrels!:) How Cute!- Jedi Squirrels!:)

]]> http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/comment-page-1/#comment-1745 Wednesday Morning Links: That Sandwich Isn’t Boring — You’re Boring! at ICED BORSCHT & Other Delights Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:49:49 +0000 http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/#comment-1745 [...] Jedi Logic [...] [...] Jedi Logic [...]

]]> http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Mori Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:12:07 +0000 http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/#comment-8 Good point, acrater. But even if someone foresaw the future with the same limitations that one could see the present (which would be a very limited precognition, very different even from the "Jedi" one), I still think that predicting their own death and avoiding it should be a very clear goal for anyone. We all have evolved instinctive ways to avoid death as fast as we can from the information that we get, and it's usually one of our top priorities. Anyway, it indeed really depends on exactly how the precognition would work. But one that does not allow you to predict with some certainty something as important for you as your own death is hardly useful and far reaching. It's something like that Christopher Walking SNL sketch, where he could only predict useless stuff. Good point, acrater. But even if someone foresaw the future with the same limitations that one could see the present (which would be a very limited precognition, very different even from the “Jedi” one), I still think that predicting their own death and avoiding it should be a very clear goal for anyone. We all have evolved instinctive ways to avoid death as fast as we can from the information that we get, and it’s usually one of our top priorities.
Anyway, it indeed really depends on exactly how the precognition would work. But one that does not allow you to predict with some certainty something as important for you as your own death is hardly useful and far reaching. It’s something like that Christopher Walking SNL sketch, where he could only predict useless stuff.

]]> http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/comment-page-1/#comment-6 acrater Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:42:36 +0000 http://forgetomori.com/2007/skepticism/the-jedi-logic/#comment-6 I don't think it's a problem of seeing the future. I think that all humans--Jedi or not--are quite capable of doing that. However, your assumption that the power would make you practically unkillable assumes that we'd be better at discerning the future than we are at observing the here and now. In fact,we have a terrible time interpreting what's happening right in front of our eyes or understanding things that have happened in the past. Why should our views of the future be any different? Especially given the human propensity for wishful thinking. If so-called psi powers are real (and I think so) they probably don't look anything like magic and they'll be just as difficult to interpret as the face across the breakfast table. I don’t think it’s a problem of seeing the future. I think that all humans–Jedi or not–are quite capable of doing that. However, your assumption that the power would make you practically unkillable assumes that we’d be better at discerning the future than we are at observing the here and now. In fact,we have a terrible time interpreting what’s happening right in front of our eyes or understanding things that have happened in the past. Why should our views of the future be any different? Especially given the human propensity for wishful thinking. If so-called psi powers are real (and I think so) they probably don’t look anything like magic and they’ll be just as difficult to interpret as the face across the breakfast table.

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