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timtyler comments on Value evolution - Less Wrong Discussion

14 Post author: PhilGoetz 08 December 2011 11:47PM

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Comment author: timtyler 09 December 2011 03:08:52PM *  1 point [-]

I like the point that human values seem to be changing faster lately, so it doesn't look like they're approaching equilibrium.

Hmm. Human terminal values - warmth, freedom from pain, orgasms, sweet tastes, etc - are evolving along with the human genome - very slowly.

Morality is a bit different. That is partly cultural - and evolves much faster (and is indeed getting better over time).

It might look as though human terminal values change with culture too - but usually that is because culture produces environmental changes. The sterile catholic priest hasn't had their terminal values changed - rather their beliefs about the state of the world have been changed.

Of course memes would love to be able to mess with human terminal values - but they are pretty wired in and seem rather challenging to mess with. Drugs may be the nearest thing.