Cameron_Taylor comments on Metaphilosophical Mysteries - Less Wrong

35 Post author: Wei_Dai 27 July 2010 12:55AM

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Comment author: cousin_it 27 July 2010 08:05:48AM *  10 points [-]

1: Philosophical ability is "almost" universal in mind space. Utility maximizers are a pathological example of an atypical mind.

I wouldn't spend much time thinking about this alternative, because it will probably be true for some ideas of "mind space" and false for others, and I don't believe we have enough information to describe the correct "mind space".

2: Evolution created philosophical ability as a side effect while selecting for something else.

Many people think the ability to argue and comprehend arguments arose due to runaway sexual selection for ability to manipulate and resist manipulation. I'm not sure how to test such an explanation.

Comment author: Cameron_Taylor 27 July 2010 08:39:44AM 0 points [-]

Some people also think the ability to argue and selectively not comprehend arguments arose due to runaway sexual selection for ability to manipulate and resist manipulation.

Comment author: Cameron_Taylor 28 July 2010 08:05:34AM -2 points [-]

This additional point is controversial even here?