Vladimir_Nesov comments on The Importance of Self-Doubt - Less Wrong

23 Post author: multifoliaterose 19 August 2010 10:47PM

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Comment author: cata 20 August 2010 01:31:49PM *  0 points [-]

Generally speaking, your argument isn't very persuasive unless you believe that the world is doomed without FAI and that direct FAI research is the only significant contribution you can make to saving it. (EDIT: To clarify slightly after your response, I mean to point out that you didn't directly mention these particular assumptions, and that I think many people take issue with them.)

My personal, rather uninformed belief is that FAI would be a source of enormous good, but it's not necessary for humanity to continue to grow and to overcome x-risk (so 3 is weaker); X may be contributing to the development of FAI, but not that much (so 4 is weaker); and other people engaged in productive pursuits are also contributing a non-zero amount to "save the world" (so 6 is weaker.)

As such, I have a hard time concluding that X's activity is anywhere near the "most important" using your reasoning, although it may be quite important.

Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 20 August 2010 01:36:26PM *  3 points [-]

Generally speaking, your argument isn't very persuasive unless you believe that the world is doomed without FAI and that direct FAI research is the only significant contribution you can make to saving it.

The argument I gave doesn't include justification of things it assumes (that you referred to). It only serves to separate the issues with claims about a person from issues with claims about what's possible in the world. Both kinds of claims (assumptions in the argument I gave) could be argued with, but necessarily separately.

Comment author: cata 20 August 2010 02:14:29PM *  0 points [-]

OK, I now see what your post was aimed at, a la this other post you made. I agree that criticism ought to be toward person X's beliefs about the world, not his conclusions about himself.