antigonus comments on Rationality Quotes March 2012 - Less Wrong

4 Post author: Thomas 03 March 2012 08:04AM

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Comment author: antigonus 05 March 2012 07:33:53AM 2 points [-]

I tell you that as long as I can conceive something better than myself I cannot be easy unless I am striving to bring it into existence or clearing the way for it.

-- G.B. Shaw, "Man and Superman"

Shaw evinces a really weird, teleological view of evolution in that play, but in doing so expresses some remarkable and remarkably early (1903) transhumanist sentiments.

Comment author: MarkusRamikin 05 March 2012 08:09:44AM 8 points [-]

I love that quote, but if it carries a rationality lesson, I fail to see it. Seems more like an appeal to the tastes of the audience here.

Comment author: antigonus 05 March 2012 09:48:42AM 4 points [-]

Yeah, you're correct. Wasn't thinking very hard.

Comment author: DSimon 05 March 2012 10:27:39AM 1 point [-]

I have to disagree; the lesson in the quote is "Win as hard as you can", which is very important if not very complicated.

Comment author: MarkusRamikin 05 March 2012 11:10:48AM 2 points [-]

I don't see the connection. If bringing a superior being to myself into existence is maximum win for me, that's not obvious. Not everyone, like Shaw's Don Juan, values the Superman.

Comment author: DSimon 05 March 2012 11:17:09PM 1 point [-]

Okay, I think I see what's going on. I originally interpreted "something better than myself" from the quote to include self-improvement. In context though, that's clearly not what it's implying.

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