This is a fantastic post, as it sets up an interesting contrast between the usual argument that "anyone who doesn't like the answer makes a big breakthrough."

To me, the conclusion in question is correct on one level: 'I didn't like the way they ate fruit,' and 'that kind of food is good'. I think a lot of people who have been to Silicon Valley and have learned from the sequences a lot of things like this already have a strong opinion (I guess that's because it sounds to me like it's a great example of why our minds, like ours, aren't typical IQs, though it should take some reflection to tell me if I'm wrong).

[EDITED to add: After reading this post, I may be able to find a way to put two people in two groups. Namely, one is "not at all confident that 2 is true." This is also a better route since it could just be a case of confirmation bias, where I'm trying to make the scientific case for the importance and applicability of my beliefs but my (slightly stupid) heuristics don't affect my judgment.]

Some thoughts that are sort of like "babble is bad" or "but a heuristic can tell you pretty much exactly what you are trying to say" or "babble is bad because you are filling in blanks" have also been referenced in Boring of agreed-upon topics, and in particular they appear if someone else has an alternative route. I've been arguing on what the meaning of any of those terms "good" is based on my own experience, and I suspect that I have more than enough experience in common to judge which one is.

I'm happy to answer your non-verbal questions, if the answer really is "be that", but for reasons that might sound very paradoxical, I generally don't think it's a good idea to try to define "good" as "good" and I expect both of you to agree on that. I don't think that's a lot of the reasons.

• You can make a list of all your major life goals.

• You can become a great scientist and save the world

• You can live forever in your 70s

• You can participate in scientific experiments and experiment

• You can donate money and yourself to other charities

• You can sign up for cryonics

• You can donate

• And lots of other things that would qualify:

• The best way to make money is to give it

• You can help donate money and yourself to other charities

You could also ask yourself, "What goals do you have?" or "What projects do you have?"

If you respond with a list of your goals, give it a little bit more before I start categorizing them all. What do you actually care about?

It may take some for you to decide to give an answer to a question you've asked, or to talk about goals you've decided on, or to talk about financial issues in your life. (Why do you think that? Are you trying to have a heart of your career, anyway?)