Contrarianism

[azooey]

In an eminently thought-worthy post, Don Boudreaux describes the virtues & vices of contrarianism.

Being contarian is admirable because it keeps the mind open and exploring; it's of a piece with one of the finest of all intellectual dispositions: skepticism.

When I contradict myself (which happens at the same frequency as that of trains departing

Comments

[zeeshanmn]

Nice user pic :-D.

[azooey]

thanks zeesh! long time no see...

[zeeshanmn]

Been very very busy, personal / professional both ways. You leaving sometime soon?

[bipin]

rejecting some piece of wisdom simply because it is widely accepted -- and of confusing the possible for the plausible.
Word.

[azooey]

Would ur highness descend from thy throne of brevity and elucidate.

[bipin]

Sure thing. Here you go. Look at the second definition - that's more where I was at.

You might not have noticed, but adding such words to my vocabulary and ending my sentences with prepositions makes me extremely hip.

[azooey]

ubercool! but i wonder if it bothers you that u might find it hard to "fit in" with the rest of us lesser mortals ;)

[smokediceman]

He fears, quite justifiably so, that too many contarians are content to bask in the brilliance of their cleverness even if this brilliance blinds them to wisdom

Isn't that contradictory in a certain sense? If he were truly contrarian, he would have to be sceptical of the belief he's brilliant. Or atleast not be as supremely convinced of it to not consider the possibility he's not Einstein v2.

[azooey]

If he were truly contrarian, he would have to be sceptical of the belief he's brilliant.

He is also extremely likely to confuse the possible for the plausible. In this sense, it might be argued that skepticism is the art of cultivating doubt to distract.

[reetumz]

Interesting, can I add you?

[azooey]

sure