= 27d567bc2d48d9f40e9ccc20ea370b15)
Michaelos comments on The value of Now. - Less Wrong
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
= 783df68a0f980790206b9ea87794c5b6)
Loading…= b715d02e85f7b3b4ae65ca3d3e450868)
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Powered by Reddit
= f037147d6e6c911a85753b9abdedda8d)
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (42)
Yes. My existence isn't so important that it just carries on, magically effecting the world while also being defined as having no observable effects. In a billion years, either I have observable effects, or I don't. If I don't, then talking about a me existing makes no sense. How would you even define me any more? Any test you would run for "Did there used to be a Michaelos over there a billion years ago?" would give the exact same results whether or not there ever was one.
So it makes no difference whether I torture you or not, because in a billion years no one will know?
"Makes no difference" to whom? Michaelos, or the hypothetical billion-years-later observer?
Hmm. I think the key question is "Are there observable effects from you torturing me?" when Omega did it, there weren't. Where the observable effects would have occurred, I blinked, I.E, nothing happened.
I think this is distinct from you torturing me right now, because there would be observable effects, which would fade away into history slowly over time. Eventually, it wouldn't be noteworthy any more, but that would take a long time to occur.
A big difference is that you can't hit a "Reverse to Status Quo Ante" button, like Omega can, of course.
So, in the future, speaking of my life in particular will likely be gibberish, (I say likely because I am assuming I'm not important a billion years from now, which seems likely.) but it isn't gibberish right now, might be a better way of putting it.
Would that make it more clear?