I don’t think this is a direct retort or agreement, but just something you prompted me to write down:
I think some of the seeming contradiction comes from an insufficiently specified rule definition.
If the rule was “walk through the fire when it’s conditions are X, Y, and Z, but only if your goal is to become stronger on dimension X, otherwise never walk through the fire (insert other specifications here)”, then we don’t have a problem.
If the rule was fully-specified then you would know whether to walk through the fire or not.
If you have a rule that is insufficiently specified and you know it, then come up with your own rule or just assess the situation.
If you have a rule that is insufficiently specified and you don’t know it, then you’re outta luck.
If you have a rule that is sufficiently specified, but too complex to apply in real life, well that sucks, but I don’t know what to do about that.
If you have a rule that is sufficiently specified, then hooray!
(I think it’s likely most how-to-live-your-life rules are probably underspecified, but the downsides to that are low enough, and the upsides of less-complex rules are great enough that it’s fine.)
I don’t think this is a direct retort or agreement, but just something you prompted me to write down:
I think some of the seeming contradiction comes from an insufficiently specified rule definition.
If the rule was “walk through the fire when it’s conditions are X, Y, and Z, but only if your goal is to become stronger on dimension X, otherwise never walk through the fire (insert other specifications here)”, then we don’t have a problem.
If the rule was fully-specified then you would know whether to walk through the fire or not.
If you have a rule that is insufficiently specified and you know it, then come up with your own rule or just assess the situation.
If you have a rule that is insufficiently specified and you don’t know it, then you’re outta luck.
If you have a rule that is sufficiently specified, but too complex to apply in real life, well that sucks, but I don’t know what to do about that.
If you have a rule that is sufficiently specified, then hooray!
(I think it’s likely most how-to-live-your-life rules are probably underspecified, but the downsides to that are low enough, and the upsides of less-complex rules are great enough that it’s fine.)