Comment by rw on Interpersonal Entanglement · 2009-01-20T22:16:53.000Z · LW · GW

Is the cat{girl,boy} scenario just a specific instantiation of the "permanent orgasm implant" problem?

Comment by rw on Traditional Capitalist Values · 2008-10-19T01:12:29.000Z · LW · GW

EY: Is this "capitalist moral system" merely rationalizing greed, regardless of how coherent it is?

Also, in markets where these values actually harm profit-maximization, would the "true capitalist" throw them aside?

Comment by rw on On Doing the Impossible · 2008-10-06T23:13:32.000Z · LW · GW

Eliezer said:

'On the timescale of years, perseverance is to "keep working on an insanely difficult problem even though it's inconvenient and you could be getting higher personal rewards elsewhere".'

This is inconsistent with utility maximization assumptions. Elsewhere on O.B. it has been discussed that the pursuit of dreams can be a payoff in itself. We must notice that it is the expectation of highest personal rewards, not the rewards themselves, that drive our decision-making. Working on the seemingly very hard problems is rewarding because it is among the set of most rewarding activities available.

Comment by rw on Trying to Try · 2008-10-02T00:40:31.000Z · LW · GW

"You have to enter a special mode, the quotation mode, to talk about your beliefs. By default, we just talk about reality."

This is a false dichotomization. Everything is reality! Speaking of thoughts as if the "mental" is separate from the "physical" indicates implicit dualism.