paulfchristiano comments on Two questions about CEV that worry me - Less Wrong

29 Post author: cousin_it 23 December 2010 03:58PM

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Comment author: paulfchristiano 29 December 2010 12:01:53AM 4 points [-]

I wasn't talking about CEV or superintelligent agents either. I mean that I have no idea how to write down my own goals. I am nowhere close to having clearly specified goals for myself, in the sense that I as a mathematician usually mean "clearly specified". The fact that I can't describe my goals well enough that I could tell them to someone else and trust them to do what I want done is just one indication that my own conception of my goals is significantly incomplete.

Comment author: timtyler 29 December 2010 12:09:53AM *  -1 points [-]

OK. You do sound as though you don't have very clearly-defined goals - though maybe there is some evasive word-play around the issue of what counts as a "clear" specification. Having goals is not rocket science! In any case, IMO, you would be well advised to start at number 1 on the above list.

How can you possibly get what you want if you don't know what it is? It doesn't matter whether you are looking to acquire wealth, enjoy excellent relationships, become more spiritual, etc. To get anywhere in life, you need to know "exactly" what you want.