scaphandre comments on To what degree do you model people as agents? - Less Wrong

34 Post author: Swimmer963 25 August 2013 07:29PM

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Comment author: scaphandre 26 August 2013 01:09:08AM 4 points [-]

I imagine it is probably emotionally taxing and isolating for a human to model themselves as the only true agent in their world. That's a lot of responsibility, inefficient for big projects (where coordinating with other 'proper' agents might be particularly useful) and probably kinda lonely.

I am all for personal responsibility and recognise that acting to best improve the world is up to me. I am currently implemented in a great ape – a mammal with certain operating requirements. Part of my behaviour in the world has to include acting to keep that great ape working well.

To avoid exposing that silly ape with the emotional weight of the being the only responsible agent in the system and to allow more fun agent-agent interactions, it might make sense to lower the mental bar for those you would call PCs?

Comment author: Decius 27 August 2013 12:42:19AM 0 points [-]

If I am the only agent in my circle of knowledge, I want to believe so.

Comment author: scaphandre 27 August 2013 01:56:29AM 1 point [-]

Agreed. But I'd place more value on searching for other agents when I know none.

From this thread we can see there is not a fixed concept of what meets the agent criteria. If I knew zero other agents, I'd be more inclined to spend more effort searching or perhaps be a little more flexible with my interpretation of what an agent might be.

Of course tricking yourself into solipsism or Wilson worship is a conceivable failure mode, but I don't think it's likely here.