RE: The Future of Secrecy

From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 20 2003 - 13:41:07 MDT

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    At 02:20 PM 6/20/2003 -0700, Rafal Smigrodzki wrote:
    >. It's worth noting that in the world of full transparency information
    >is no longer different from real property in terms of enforceability and
    >verifiability of contracts - it can be sold, and its theft can be prevented
    >just as in the case of apples. ...

    I think you need pretty extreme transparency before this is true. I was
    focusing more on various intermediate degrees of transparency.

    >The process for choosing ordinary beliefs is dependent on a large amount
    >of data collected during phylogeny, as well as some input from ontogeny over
    >many years. As such, it is the expression of adaptation to prevailing
    >conditions. How would you then define "bias" in this context? What would be
    >the meaning of a fully non-biased approach to formation of beliefs?

    We were talking about people using self-deception instead of dishonesty.
    For example, instead of lying and saying you are a great worker, you make
    yourself believe it even when your evidence goes against this belief.
    "Bias" mean processes that produce such systematic deviations.

    Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
    Assistant Professor of Economics, George Mason University
    MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
    703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323



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