RobinZ comments on Bloggingheads: Robert Wright and Eliezer Yudkowsky - Less Wrong

6 Post author: Liron 07 August 2010 06:09AM

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Comment author: RobinZ 07 August 2010 11:18:53PM 2 points [-]

The purpose of natural selection, fine-tuning of physical constants in our universe, and of countless other detailed coincidences (1) was to create me. (Or, for the readers of this comment, to create you)

The optimization process that optimized all these things is called anthropics. Its principle of operation is absurdly simple: you can't find yourself in a part of the universe that can't create you.

That's not what "purpose" means.

Comment author: timtyler 08 August 2010 07:46:18AM *  1 point [-]

The discussion is about what "purpose" means - in the context of designoid systems.

I for one am fine with attributing "purpose" to designoid entities that were created by an anthropic selective process - rather than by evolution and natural selection.

Comment author: RobinZ 08 August 2010 04:38:58PM 0 points [-]

I guess I can see that.