Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality 17b – Locating the Hypothesis, part 2
Aug 11, 2011
In this podcast, Harry has conversations with Dumbledore about formalities and his character, time-turners and the cloak of invisibility. They discuss a mysterious rock and a used textbook that belonged to Harry's mother. Harry returns quest items and explores Dumbledore's office, discovering magical artifacts and the Sorting Hat. He confronts an old wizard and is warned not to open a forbidden door.
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Locate Hypotheses Before Committing
- When choosing among many possibilities, the hard part is locating the right hypothesis to pay attention to.
- Harry argues that privileging one unfounded hypothesis skips most of the necessary evidence-gathering work.
Dumbledore Identifies The Cloak
- Dumbledore suggests Harry may possess the Cloak of Invisibility, possibly a Deathly Hallow.
- He requests to see the cloak and senses its power, then warns Harry not to sell or casually reveal it.
Respect Consent Over Power
- You can refuse to show something even if others can seize it by power, and consent matters.
- Dumbledore promises not to take Harry's cloak without permission, emphasizing voluntary trust.