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YB
@yb
AMA with @vgr starts now! Venkatesh Rao has been writing ribbonfarm.com since 2007. He's also the author of Tempo, a book on timing & decision-making. Vgr consults executives to help stress-test their thinking and build systems for their organizations. Most recently, he ran summerofprotocols.com Ask away 🎤
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Connor McCormick ☀️
@nor
@vgr Do you really think "realism" is the right term for your ideology? Seems self-indulgent and autodeceptive. Like a real realist would know they don't see reality.
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Venkatesh Rao ☀️
@vgr
I don't bother with labels for introspection. But "realist" is often a convenient label to use to introduce myself in some contexts where everybody else is being too idealistic or cynical or abstract or whatever. The philosophical sense of the word is a bit of a conflation here. I think about that... philosophically
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Connor McCormick ☀️
@nor
But is it actually informative or instructive? Like is there anyone that wouldn't rationalize their ideology by arguing that it's the one best in compliance with reality? Even the self-described optimists and pessimists I know call themselves such because they argue it's more realistic
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Venkatesh Rao ☀️
@vgr
Sometimes yes, sometimes not Feels like you’re overthinking a word that doesn’t merit it? Socially it’s a practical word. Philosophically it is sometimes useful
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Connor McCormick ☀️
@nor
I guess when I look for descriptions of a philosophy or value, I try to find something that not everyone would agree with, because if everyone agrees with it it must not be informative
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Venkatesh Rao ☀️
@vgr
Good heuristic but not sure what to say about it Philosophically I’m a realist in the sense that I think reality exists and it’s not all monist Maya and I have many related dualist thoughts Politically it’s a practical way to distinguish myself from idealists and utopians Attitudinally it is an ok calling card
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