This seems like a reflection of a general problem people have, the problem of not getting things done—more specifically, the problem of not getting things done by convincing yourself not to do them.
It’s so much easier to NOT do things than do them, so we’re constantly on the lookout for ways not to do them. Of course, we feel bad if we simply don’t do them, so we first have to come up with elaborate reasons why it’s ok—“I’ll have plenty of time to do it later”, “There’s too much uncertainty”, “I already got alot of work done today”, etc. The underconfidence you’re describing seems like another attempt at this rather than a peculiar habit of rationalists.
I try to fight this, semi-successfully, by remembering that it’s only the RESULT that matters. If I want something, it doesn’t matter what clever words or arguments I make to myself about doing it; in the end I either get it or I don’t. And there’s certainly nothing rational about convincing yourself to not get something you want; rationalists WIN, after all.
It’s so much easier to NOT do things than do them, so we’re constantly on the lookout for ways not to do them.
In CS, laziness is considered a virtue, principally (I believe) because being too lazy to just do something the hard (but obvious) way tends to lead to coming up with an easy (clever) way that’s probably faster and more elegant.
And there’s certainly nothing rational about convincing yourself to not get something you want
This seems like a reflection of a general problem people have, the problem of not getting things done—more specifically, the problem of not getting things done by convincing yourself not to do them.
It’s so much easier to NOT do things than do them, so we’re constantly on the lookout for ways not to do them. Of course, we feel bad if we simply don’t do them, so we first have to come up with elaborate reasons why it’s ok—“I’ll have plenty of time to do it later”, “There’s too much uncertainty”, “I already got alot of work done today”, etc. The underconfidence you’re describing seems like another attempt at this rather than a peculiar habit of rationalists.
I try to fight this, semi-successfully, by remembering that it’s only the RESULT that matters. If I want something, it doesn’t matter what clever words or arguments I make to myself about doing it; in the end I either get it or I don’t. And there’s certainly nothing rational about convincing yourself to not get something you want; rationalists WIN, after all.
In CS, laziness is considered a virtue, principally (I believe) because being too lazy to just do something the hard (but obvious) way tends to lead to coming up with an easy (clever) way that’s probably faster and more elegant.
But what if you convince yourself not to want it?