International Law

Apologies To Robin Hanson

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I used to frequent Robin Hanson's blog Overcoming Bias.  Then, I disengaged partly because I could not understand the practical import of his view about common knowledge and rational disagreement, like this.

"But this does seem a handy opportunity to repeat that while disagreement isn't hate, it is disrespect. 

When you knowingly disagree with someone you are judging them to be less rational than you, at least on that topic.  (Judging them less informed or experienced by itself can't create disagreement.) 

It might be only a minor disrespect, if you think this disagreement suggests little about whether you'd disagree with them elsewhere. 

But disagreement is disrespect, nonetheless."

The practical import of having to treat a disagreement as indicating disrespect was contrary to every mediation or negotiation that I have taken part in.

However, the recent discussion amongst economists about the value of the Obama stimulus package, has prompted me to take a second look at Hanson's claim.

Here are two theorists, Don Boudreaux and Brad DeLong, shooting spitballs at each other about the possible effect of the Obama stimulus package.

Both of them know, at some level, the deep uncertainty there is associated with this solution, and yet are willing to slag each other in a manner most unfitting and disrespectful.

Maybe there is something to this idea that disagreement if not disrespectful must be unknowing.

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on January 16, 2009 (boomark / email).