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PhilGoetz comments on SRG 4: Biological Cognition, BCIs, Organizations - Less Wrong
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I'm used to Robin Hanson presenting near / far mode dichotomies as "near mode greedy and stupid, far mode rational". But perhaps far mode allows the slow machinery of reason to be brought to bear, and most people's reasoning about IVF and embryo selection is victim to irrational ideas about ethics. In such cases, near mode (IVF is now possible) could produce more "rational" decisions because it bypasses rationality, while the reasoning that would be done in far mode has faulty premises and performs worse than random.
Interesting, I always interpreted Robin as casting near in a positive light (realistic, sensible) and far more negatively (self-aggrandizing and delusional).
People in far mode say they will exercise more, eat better, get a new job, watch documentaries instead of Game of Thrones, read classic literature, etc., and we could call those far-sighted plans "rational". Near mode gives in to inertia and laziness.
We could, but we really should call these plans lies for they intend to deceive -- either oneself to gain near-term contentment, or others to gain social status.