Szymon Kaliski

Look for Opposite Views Instead of Confirming Ones

• actively look for views "against" what we believe/learn - and trying to understand them
• this is a countermeasure for the feedback loop of looking for confirmation for what we believe, and learning only more confirmation, closing us from different views / the "truth"
• looking for confirmation is opposite of a scientific method - we have an outcome in mind and want to find points for supporting it, instead of starting from observations, and coming to a conclusion

Google the subject term or phrase followed by the word controversy or opposition... If you don't find a lot, try rebuttal, refuted, arguments against.

— https://www.virtualsalt.com/learn22.html ↗

• references:
  • confirmation bias is the bias of looking for information that confirm what we already believe

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The classic role model would be Charles Darwin. He forced himself to write down (and therefore elaborate on) the arguments that were the most critical of his theories

— How to Take Smart Notes

Backlinks

1. 2020-12-20Do Your Own Thinking¹