Comment on The Problem with AIXI

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 20:35:38 GMT

Humans did invent hypotheses like, “complete brain damage allows the mind to escape to a better place”, but there seems to be a strong case for the claim that humans are far more confident in such hypotheses than they should be, given the evidence.

It can be also argued that even humans who claim to believe in immortal souls don't actually use this belief instrumentally: religious people don't drop anvils on their heads to "allow the mind to escape to a better place", unless they are insane. Even religious suicide terrorists generally have political or personal motives (e.g. increasing the status of their family members), they don't really blow themselves up or fly planes into buildings for the 72 virgins.

Discuss