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I didn't read it as "we should trust people based on looks", but more as "we DO trust people based on looks" (I assume the "empirical evidence" refers to evidence of this being hardwired into us, not to evidence of it being useful).

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I meant that the existence of the effect means it was selected as beneficial. If we want to override this response we should use our higher-level reasoning to (1) understand why it works that way (2) show that we can do better.

The burden of proof is on those proposing a new system. I doubt it’s as easy as many rationalists assume.

darkerside pointed out a great rational benefit of trusting emotional people [1]. What would be the benefit of trusting better-looking people?

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17668937

... not necessarily.

The existence of the effect really means that it wasn't selected against.

Sounds right; maybe it's a side-effect of something else.

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