Comment on Decision Theory FAQ

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:35:11 GMT

Clippy is more of a Lovecraftian horror than a fellow sentient - where by "Lovecraftian" I mean to invoke Lovecraft's original intended sense of terrifying indifference - but if you want to suppose a Clippy that possesses a pleasure-pain architecture and is sentient and then sympathize with it, I suppose you could. The point is that your sympathy means that you're motivated by facts about what some other sentient being wants. This doesn't motivate Clippy even with respect to its own pleasure and pain. In the long run, it has decided, it's not out to feel happy, it's out to make paperclips.

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