Comment by Deskchair on I've had it with those dark rumours about our culture rigorously suppressing opinions · 2012-05-28T14:22:49.360Z · LW · GW

In the natural world, the average animal with appreciable intelligence will experience more pain and suffering than joy and pleasure in its lifetime. As soon as we have the technology to live without it, we have a moral obligation to destroy all other life on the planet with a remotely developed brain.

Comment by Deskchair on Attention control is critical for changing/increasing/altering motivation · 2012-05-25T15:12:32.810Z · LW · GW

I don't think it means much that the molecular systems involved are universal. The fact that wires are transferring electrons in two different computers doesn't mean the computers are programmed the same way.

Comment by Deskchair on Human Evil and Muddled Thinking · 2012-05-23T16:04:16.047Z · LW · GW

To me, that sounds a lot like saying "We should be rational, but we should stop before it feels too unintuitive or against social norms".

Comment by Deskchair on [SEQ RERUN] I Defy the Data! · 2012-05-14T16:42:27.687Z · LW · GW

So it sounds a lot like how science actually works. I'm not sure what this article offers, honestly.

Comment by Deskchair on Failed Utopia #4-2 · 2012-05-10T16:43:18.996Z · LW · GW

Is that a bad thing?

Comment by Deskchair on Rationality Quotes May 2012 · 2012-05-04T14:41:16.443Z · LW · GW

That hasn't stopped us from doing incredible feats of artificial selection using phenotype alone. You can work faster and better the more you understand a system on the genetic level, but it's hardly necessary.