QotD / Taleb on the benefits of religion

[piggymouse]

Талеб жжот!

Nobody seems to notice that over the millennia religions (all religions) have saved people from death — because it protected them from doctors and “science”. Because of the illusion of control, we feel like “doing something” when facing a problem — “seeing an expert”, etc. If religion is at least neutral then it is a great way to stay out of harms’ way: science, faux-experts, quacks, etc.

Comments

[shalapanova.livejournal.com]

Моя хотеть это книжко !

[piggymouse.livejournal.com]

А это не книжко, это заметки у него на сайте. Скачивай и читай.

[shalapanova.livejournal.com]

моя теперь хотеть киндл ;)

[piggymouse.livejournal.com]

Лучше iPad. ;)

[shalapanova.livejournal.com]

Посмотрела я на ваш iPad - "Wow"-эффекта не произошло.

[piggymouse.livejournal.com]

А от Киндла произошло?

[nine_k]

I yet need to see such a neutral religion, which won't have you see a preacher, guru, etc.

[piggymouse.livejournal.com]

By "neutral" Taleb means "not requiring an immediate physical intervention". Taleb's point (which has yet to be validated) is that, before the era of antibiotics, seeing a doctor reduced one's chance to survive — exactly because the doctors, while not understanding at all how human body worked, would still recommend cures (pills or procedures), usually of dubious effect. Seeing a preacher doesn't directly harm your physical being and might have a slight positive effect on your psyche by virtue of the placebo effect (or simply by relieving your strain). Overall, in that pre-penicillin era, you're better off with a preacher than with a doctor. Мотороллер не мой, I'm just summarizing Taleb's recent comments.

[msh.livejournal.com]

Even well before the era of antibiotics, doctor could clean your wounds, make a bandage, use some astringent to stop bleeding etc.

Quinine was discovered by scientists in 16th century, and quinine is a pretty potent medicine even by today's standard.

[nine_k]

For infectuous, chronic, and mental diseases, this might make sense.
For general hygiene like cleaning wounds and basic surgery like mending broken bones, even medieval doctors could still be of use, probably.

[109.livejournal.com]

:)