Why is the goal people over paper clips?
Why do you need justification on this? Would you exchange lifes of your friends or relatives for a ton of paperclips?
No, but I might exchange the lives of someone elses friends for a billion tons of paperclips.
I've read through some of the Sequences, but I'm still unclear on a few basic concepts around LW rationality. This is in part to my learning still which benefits from social engagement (ie discussions) rather than just reading. One of those concepts I'm unclear on: Is there an inherent value to human (or sentient) life?
It appears to me that one common theme on this site is that human life (current and future) is very important. Why is that so? Why is the goal people over paper clips?