Kaj_Sotala comments on The Power of Agency - Less Wrong

60 Post author: lukeprog 07 May 2011 01:38AM

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Comment author: Kaj_Sotala 08 May 2011 10:51:21AM *  7 points [-]

I radically distrust the message of this short piece. It's a positive affirmation for "rationalists" of the contemporary sort who want to use brain science to become super-achievers.

Interesting. Personally I read it as a kind of "get back to Earth" message. "Stop pretending you're basically a rational thinker and only need to correct some biases to truly achieve that. You're this horrible jury-rig of biases and ancient heuristics, and yes while steps towards rationality can make you perform much better, you're still fundamentally and irreparably broken. Deal with it."

But re-reading it, your interpretation is probably closer to the mark.