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NancyLebovitz comments on Do Earths with slower economic growth have a better chance at FAI? - Less Wrong Discussion

30 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 12 June 2013 07:54PM

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Comment author: NancyLebovitz 13 June 2013 09:11:12AM 6 points [-]

Any thoughts about what sort of society optimizes for insight into difficult problems?

Comment author: D_Alex 14 June 2013 08:14:03AM *  4 points [-]

I have a few thoughts.... Naturally first question is what does "optimise for insight" mean.

  1. A society which values leisure and prosperity, eg the current Scandinavians...? Evidence; They punch well above their weight economically, produce world class stuff (Volvo, Nokia, Ericsson, Bang&Olufsen spring to mind), but working pace from my experience could be described as "leisurely". Possibly best "insights/manhour" ratio.
  2. A society which values education, but which somehow ended up with a screwed up economy, eg the USSR...? Evidence: first man in space, atomic power/weapons, numerous scientific breakthroughs... possibly best "Insight/stuff" ratio.
  3. A wealthy modern capitalist democracy which values growth, eg the USA...? Evidence: more "science" and inventions produced in total than anywhere else. Possibly best "insights/time" ratio.
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