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Lumifer comments on Open Thread, May 5 - 11, 2014 - Less Wrong Discussion
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Oh dear. It's funny how an inferential distance can pop up in the simplest things.
OK, let's me get explicit then.
The main parallel between Soylent and blow-up dolls lies within the concept of impoverished experience.
Food and sex have the capability of being very rich, deep, complex, engaging, intense experiences. There is potential for much, from simple sensual pleasures to complicated philosophies. It seems a waste to give up on such richness in favor of satisfying only the lowest, crudest demands of your body so that it would just shut up and go away.
OK, thanks, I get your point now.
On the other hand, I get the impression that Soylent is mainly intended to substitute junk food, rather than gourmet meals, so, hoping this rope doesn't snap if I pull it this far... Are blow-up dolls better or worse than low-end prostitutes? Meh. What is it to me? De gustibus non est disputandum. Let the market decide! (Of course we don't know the market will locate the optimal result, because imperfect information/externalities/irrationality/etc., but if anything I'd expect these to favour the junk food.)