cousin_it comments on The Meaning of Life - Less Wrong

13 Post author: b1shop 17 September 2010 07:29PM

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Comment author: Wei_Dai 17 September 2010 10:02:01PM 18 points [-]

I had a secular upbringing. I'm not disappointed that the universe has no meaning (i.e., purpose given by a creator) but I do sometimes find it frustrating to be in the situation of being an optimizer who doesn't know what it is they're supposed to optimize.

Comment author: cousin_it 21 September 2010 09:33:51PM *  0 points [-]

an optimizer who doesn't know what it is they're supposed to optimize

Doesn't this contradict another comment of yours?

Comment author: Wei_Dai 21 September 2010 10:03:59PM 0 points [-]

In what way do they contradict each other? Please explain.

Comment author: cousin_it 21 September 2010 10:33:53PM 1 point [-]

If you know you have no utility function, why do you feel you're an optimizer?

Comment author: Wei_Dai 22 September 2010 02:06:59AM 0 points [-]

I guess I used the word "optimizer" because

  1. I personally enjoy optimizing things, for example writing the fastest and/or most elegant code, or finding the best deal on a purchase.
  2. I'm similar to a utility maximizer in many respects (e.g., has beliefs based on deduction and induction, considers consequences of actions, etc.) except that I don't seem to have a utility function.
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