Comments on: Why Most Published Research Findings are False http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2005/10/30/why-most-published-research-findings-are-false/ The software industry from a rational perspective Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:29:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: allenjs http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2005/10/30/why-most-published-research-findings-are-false/#comment-1030 allenjs Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:29:18 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2005/10/30/why-most-published-research-findings-are-false/#comment-1030 Snuggles: Right on. Systems are a way for us to blame the victim (people are poor because they're stupid), avoid responsibility for our brother, and so on. There is something to be said for economies of scale; but any system just amplifies the intentions and deceits of it's participants -- and thus is only as "good" as the people therein. Snuggles:

Right on. Systems are a way for us to blame the victim (people are poor because they’re stupid), avoid responsibility for our brother, and so on. There is something to be said for economies of scale; but any system just amplifies the intentions and deceits of it’s participants — and thus is only as “good” as the people therein.

]]> By: Smuggles http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2005/10/30/why-most-published-research-findings-are-false/#comment-952 Smuggles Wed, 06 Sep 2006 08:54:10 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2005/10/30/why-most-published-research-findings-are-false/#comment-952 The "cult of reason" is like the "cult of money" and of course like religion. The allure is that there is a supremely simple value system against which any action can be judged. Reason == having one, money == more is better, religion == be a good little boy/girl. How convenient and free from any pesky freedom/responsibility! Any potential action can simply be mechanically deconstructed to obtain an answer as to whether or not it should be carried out. In a closed social system, values (ends) are the unconscious-because-universal substrate -- only the means remain to be resolved. Now if something you do comes under question, it's not your fault, it's the system's! You might as well blame the sun for shining! That is when reason becomes rationalization, rapacious greed becomes stockholder interest, and religion becomes an excuse to sin. (I am only human!) In the end what is important is that you are perceived to be on the right side of the fence. That you are "in" with your cult, and if your cult has negotiated a treaty (such as corporate person-hood), by extension society at large. Because then your license to ill remains intact. "I am right." But wherefore, dear cog? The “cult of reason” is like the “cult of money” and of course like religion. The allure is that there is a supremely simple value system against which any action can be judged. Reason == having one, money == more is better, religion == be a good little boy/girl. How convenient and free from any pesky freedom/responsibility! Any potential action can simply be mechanically deconstructed to obtain an answer as to whether or not it should be carried out. In a closed social system, values (ends) are the unconscious-because-universal substrate — only the means remain to be resolved.

Now if something you do comes under question, it’s not your fault, it’s the system’s! You might as well blame the sun for shining! That is when reason becomes rationalization, rapacious greed becomes stockholder interest, and religion becomes an excuse to sin. (I am only human!) In the end what is important is that you are perceived to be on the right side of the fence. That you are “in” with your cult, and if your cult has negotiated a treaty (such as corporate person-hood), by extension society at large. Because then your license to ill remains intact.

“I am right.” But wherefore, dear cog?

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