• AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    Causality, like entropy, is an emergent property that’s hard to pin down formally, but is a critical element of any narrative. I’m with you that far, but how do price tags and double breakage figure in?

    • rainrain@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      7 hours ago

      Given a number of equally plausible narratives we will choose the one in which we profit the most. And argue for it. That’s the second breakage.

      • AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world
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        7 hours ago

        we will choose the one in which we profit the most

        I think we’ll choose the narrative most consistent with our existing worldview, even if it hurts our own interests.

        • rainrain@sh.itjust.worksOP
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          7 hours ago

          Sometimes your worldview will offer several equally plausible narratives. With no clear “truth”.

          Sometimes the temptation to squint is powerful. A paycheck can do that.

          • AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world
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            7 hours ago

            I don’t think we’re usually conscious of the availability of multiple narratives to the point that we can mentally simulate each one and compare their potential utility.

            The choices we consciously make are the ones that arise inside of narratives, not between narratives themselves.

            • rainrain@sh.itjust.worksOP
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              6 hours ago

              I think that we are attracted to the profitable narratives, choosing them automatically and habitually, working out our case for choosing them on a semiconscious level.

              Rationality here is a justifying tool, applied after the fact.