Kaj_Sotala comments on Suffering as attention-allocational conflict - Less Wrong

49 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 18 May 2011 03:12PM

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Comment author: jimmy 18 May 2011 07:20:53PM 4 points [-]

It's interesting to note that it probably doesn't matter whether my analysis of the sources of the conflict is 100% accurate.

Have you pushed the limits of how flimsy they can be? Can you tell yourself in a serious mental tone of voice "My horoscope said I have to pick X" and have it go away?

Can you do the full analysis and have confident answer without getting it to go away?

My quick mental simulations say "yes" to both and that it's not so much 'having an explanation' as it is deliberately flipping the mental "dismiss alarm" button, which you do only when "you" are comfortable enough to.

Comment author: Kaj_Sotala 18 May 2011 08:41:47PM 2 points [-]

Can you tell yourself in a serious mental tone of voice "My horoscope said I have to pick X" and have it go away?

I haven't tested this, but I'm guessing yes.

Can you do the full analysis and have confident answer without getting it to go away?

Yes. That's when I usually switch to non-content-focused methods.

My quick mental simulations say "yes" to both and that it's not so much 'having an explanation' as it is deliberately flipping the mental "dismiss alarm" button, which you do only when "you" are comfortable enough to.

That does sound pretty plausible.

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