Xachariah comments on 11 minute TED talk is about instrumental rationality - Less Wrong

9 Post author: JamesAndrix 29 August 2012 07:33AM

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Comment author: Xachariah 29 August 2012 09:58:31AM *  3 points [-]

That's a good talk. It starts slow but ends on an important lesson about rational personal responsibility. I know we're not supposed to use rational as a descriptor like that (eg, rational shoes), but it's so different from what people normally talk about as responsible. It's the idea that, no matter what happens, the only things your actions count for is what actually happens as a result.

Sadly, it's not covered well in the sequences. I think trying to try is the closest there is. I know Eliezer believes in it though because it's in HPMoR. Still, this talk is a great example of it and I'm glad to have seen it.

Edit: Disregard me, NancyLebovitz is correct. Something to Protect covers it exceptionally well. Also the newcomb's post.