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Zelalem Mekonnen

@zelalem-mekonnen·Member since March 2025

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  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on idea #1897.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it receives criticism. The idea is considered false until all criticism is resolved. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

#1897·Zelalem Mekonnen revised about 2 months ago

What if, at that time, the best idea one has is the false idea?

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1896. The revision addresses ideas #1882, #1884, and #1894.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it receives criticism. When it has received criticism and until the current criticism is resolved, that idea is seen as false. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it receives criticism. The idea is considered false until all criticism is resolved. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1881. The revision addresses idea #1883.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it has received criticism. When it has received criticism and until the current criticism is resolved, that idea is seen as false. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it receives criticism. When it has received criticism and until the current criticism is resolved, that idea is seen as false. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on idea #1894.

I went over it first and made a few changes. After that, Grammarly recommended that I remove the 'a' before 'criticism' and to remove the 'they are'.

#1894·Zelalem Mekonnen revised about 2 months ago

Does the ‘a’ mean I made few but significant changes?

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1882. The revision addresses idea #1885.

I went over it first and made few changes. After that, Grammarly recommended that I remove the 'a' before 'criticism' and to remove the 'they are'.

I went over it first and made a few changes. After that, Grammarly recommended that I remove the 'a' before 'criticism' and to remove the 'they are'.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on idea #1881.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it has received criticism. When it has received criticism and until the current criticism is resolved, that idea is seen as false. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

#1881·Zelalem Mekonnen revised about 2 months ago

I went over it first and made few changes. After that, Grammarly recommended that I remove the 'a' before 'criticism' and to remove the 'they are'.

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1874. The revision addresses ideas #1875 and #1880.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if they are related should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept that idea as true until it has received criticism. When it has received criticism and until the current criticism is resolved, that idea is seen as false. Since the goal is to live a rational life, we wouldn't act in accordance with that idea. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if related, should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen addressed criticism #1875.

Now I’m submitting a criticism that contains a flaw. It has a tpyo.

Try counter-critizing my criticism by pointing out the typo. Observe that the red label saying ‘Criticized’ on #1874 disappears once you submit your criticism.

In other words, your counter-criticism ‘neutralizes’ my criticism.

Revising ideas and submitting counter-criticisms are the two ways to address criticisms.

#1875·Dennis HackethalOP, about 2 months ago

There is a typo in "[i]t has a tpyo."

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1871. The revision addresses ideas #1872 and #1873.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Each idea and criticism, even if they are related must be their its own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Ideas (including criticisms), even if they are related should generally be submitted separately. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1858. The revision addresses ideas #1859, #1860, and #1861.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in its own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't submit bulk ideas or criticisms. Each idea and criticism, even if they are related must be their its own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1861.

We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in its own.

It’s true that each criticism should be submitted separately, but that’s not related to bulk criticism in the way you seem to be suggesting.

Imagine a post containing multiple ideas. Then a single criticism of that post will make it look as though all of the ideas in that post are problematic. If the criticism actually only applies to a subset of the ideas, that’s bulk criticism.

For example, somebody submits a post saying: ‘I love Batman. I love Spider-Man.’ Then somebody else criticizes the post by saying ‘Batman sucks because <some reasoning>.’ Now it looks like Spider-Man has received criticism, too, even though the criticism only applies to Batman.

See if you want to change the quoted passage to: ‘We submit only one idea at a time. Same for criticisms.’

#1861·Dennis HackethalOP, about 2 months ago

What if the point an author is trying to make takes multiple ideas? Say we are talking about comic books and I say "DC comics are better than Marvel, because Thor is a better character than Superman, even thou Batman might be a better character than Iron man?"

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1854. The revision addresses ideas #1855 and #1856.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in its own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1856.

Making progress. Just a minor quibble next, but worth practicing with:

Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own.

There’s a typo: “it's” should be ‘its’ (no apostrophe).

See if you can revise your idea to address this criticism. Remember, there are two steps: changing the spelling and deselecting this criticism.

#1856·Dennis HackethalOP, about 2 months ago

The gap between "it's" and "its" is big. My lack of paying attention to detail is becoming more and more obvious. In any case.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on idea #1854.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

#1854·Zelalem Mekonnen revised about 2 months ago

Ah. Now I get it!

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1851. The revision addresses ideas #1848 and #1853.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1833.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate criticism.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate ideas.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1848.

Decent start with some room for improvement. Let’s learn Veritula by doing. I’ll submit criticisms of your idea one by one and you can practice Veritula by addressing them. Here’s the first one:

Also, avoid duplicate criticism.

Yes, but we should avoid duplicate ideas in general.

Try revising #1833 to address this criticism. Click ‘Revise’, change ‘avoid duplicate criticism’ to ‘avoid duplicate ideas’, deselect this criticism underneath the form, then hit submit.

Make sure that at each step you understand why you’re performing that step. Ask first if you don’t.

#1848·Dennis HackethalOP, about 2 months ago

What of for "Supersedes previous version?" box? Would that be selected, since the new version would supersede the current version.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1646.

Criticism is a form of knowledge. How does reason have access to criticism if reason is not the source of knowledge?

#1646·Dennis Hackethal, 3 months ago

Could you expand more on what you mean by the above question?

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1650.

Ayn Rand claims that "[t]he virtue of Rationality means the recognition and acceptance of reason as one's only source of knowledge [...]." This is wrong, mainly because reason can only be used as a method of choosing between knowledge/ideas, not as a source of knowledge.

Ayn Rand claims that "[t]he virtue of Rationality means the recognition and acceptance of reason as one's only source of knowledge [...]." This is wrong, mainly because reason can only be used as a method of choosing between knowledge/ideas, not as the only source of knowledge.

  Zelalem Mekonnen submitted idea #1833.

If I understand Veritula correctly, we first start with an idea/conjecture. We accept the idea as true until it has received a criticism. In which case, until the current criticism isn't resolved, the idea is tentatively seen as false and makes no sense to live in accordance to it. We don't do bulk criticism. Each criticism, even if they are related must be in it's own. Also, avoid duplicate criticism.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1727.

I pointed out a circularity in #1655. Instead of resolving the circularity, you posted another idea repeating the same circularity. That makes no sense.

Even if I was somehow mistaken about there being a circularity, repeating the same idea doesn’t correct that.

Please read the discussion ‘How Does Veritula Work?’ in its entirety before continuing here.

#1727·Dennis Hackethal, 2 months ago

Say someone said "I had a dream that {insert something true}" or "god told me that {insert something true}," what is the source of knowledge here?

  Zelalem Mekonnen addressed criticism #1623.

If I get her right, one could in principle hold a rational belief which is false —a belief in god, say— so long as this belief stems from a sincere effort to explain the world and so long as the believer is ready to jettison his belief if he were to think of some reason why it cannot be true.

A belief in god is a form of mysticism. Rand writes that rationality “means the rejection of any form of mysticism […].” So a belief in god is not just false, it’s irrational. It’s also implausible that someone could hold on to as blatantly false an idea as the existence of god without some refusal to look into the matter critically.

#1623·Dennis Hackethal, 3 months ago

This has to take time into context. At one point, a belief in god was all that we had. We didn't have hard to vary explanations. As such, a person might have a belief in god as the only worldview currently. So it isn't irrational for that person, or people back in the days, to believe in god.

  Zelalem Mekonnen addressed criticism #1727.

I pointed out a circularity in #1655. Instead of resolving the circularity, you posted another idea repeating the same circularity. That makes no sense.

Even if I was somehow mistaken about there being a circularity, repeating the same idea doesn’t correct that.

Please read the discussion ‘How Does Veritula Work?’ in its entirety before continuing here.

#1727·Dennis Hackethal, 2 months ago

Dreams can be a source of knowledge. But dreams aren't always reasonable. Sometimes, dreams are lies.

In that statement, I am looking at reason as a mode of criticism. You might get ideas and potentially knowledge from all sources and reason tests weather they are right or not.

And if I understand you right, what you're saying is if an idea isn't from 'reason' than how can we criticize it using reason. But we can and do all the time. Religion is irrational, but we criticize it and take what is good from it and discard the rest.

  Zelalem Mekonnen revised idea #1653.

Fire purifies gold, but it isn't gold itself. Reason doesn't need to be the source of knowledge to criticize other sources. The main source of knowledge is myth and things that don't make sense. All of our scientific theories are testable, hard to vary myths. As Popper states in Conjecture and Refutations (171), "[w]e shall understand that, in a certain sense, science is myth-making just as religion is."

Religion is a form of knowledge, but it is not reasonable. It holds some truths, but it is not reasonable. Knowledge can come from myths, which are not reason.

  Zelalem Mekonnen commented on criticism #1646.

Criticism is a form of knowledge. How does reason have access to criticism if reason is not the source of knowledge?

#1646·Dennis Hackethal, 3 months ago

This misses the point of the post before it. Knowledge starts as myths and contains myths. Reason makes it hard to vary, thus reasonable to take as true until the myths in that theory itself are corrected.