Cyan comments on High Status and Stupidity: Why? - Less Wrong

34 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 12 January 2010 04:36PM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 13 January 2010 04:44:52PM 3 points [-]

This is a brain we're talking about, not a truth. The question is just whether I can successfully put my brain into a certain state.

Comment author: Cyan 13 January 2010 05:07:57PM *  -1 points [-]

not a truth

So you don't think there is an actual fact of the matter in regards to your status (or anyone else's presumably). This is consistent with your stance on the usefulness of self-delusion -- you wouldn't try to manipulate your brain state by seeking to believe false things. But it does raise the question of what it is exactly that Robin Hanson is always going on about.

Comment author: Tyrrell_McAllister 13 January 2010 05:36:59PM 1 point [-]

So you don't think there is an actual fact of the matter in regards to your status (or anyone else's presumably).

I don't think so. But the state of "status-seeking" is not a belief.

Also, many different brain states can embody the same accurate belief. Eliezer probably wants to have an accurate belief about his status-level. He just doesn't want his brain to "implement" that belief in a certain way that he suspects would impair his intelligence.