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RobbBB comments on Open thread, Mar. 23 - Mar. 31, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: MrMind 23 March 2015 08:38AM

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Comment author: RobbBB 23 March 2015 10:28:07PM 4 points [-]

Other names we considered included "Rationality: From A to Z" (note there are 26 sequences in the book, lettered from A to Z), "From Atoms (atómy) to Zombies", "From Algorithms (algoritmy) to Zombies." It sounds like "automatov" below would work better, but I don't speak Slovak so I can't comment on these options connotations/associations.

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 24 March 2015 09:24:16AM 2 points [-]

Thanks. So the good choices seem to be "atoms", "automatons", and "algorithms".

What is your opinion, LessWrong hive mind? Which one of these three words feels most related to the Sequences?

Submitting...

Comment author: Caue 24 March 2015 03:11:19PM 3 points [-]

"Algorithms" feels more related to the Sequences, but may not be the strategic choice. I don't expect non-math/CS types to go "yay, a book about algorithms!".

Comment author: Viliam_Bur 24 March 2015 04:10:47PM *  4 points [-]

I am more concerned about the lack of specific algorithms in the book. If I remember correctly, there is no pseudocode anywhere. It's just metaphorically that the whole book is about human thinking algorithms, etc. But using the word "algorithm" in the title feels like a false promise.

EDIT: Okay, the hive mind has spoken, and I accept the "algorithms". Thanks to everyone who voted!

Comment author: artemium 31 March 2015 06:53:25AM 0 points [-]

I never thought of that, but that's a great question. We have similar problem in Croatian language as AI would be translated 'Umjetna Inteligencija' (UI). I think we can also use the suggested title "From Algorithms to Zombies" once someone decides to make Croatian/Serbian/Bosnian translation

Comment author: RowanE 24 March 2015 06:17:20PM 1 point [-]

An automaton seems too similar to a zombie to give the "diverse mix of things" impression a "from A to Z" title should give off. I'd think the book was about mindlessness, and presumably how rational people can avoid behaving like the mindless automata and zombies that make up the common rabble, which isn't exactly how I would characterise the sequences, even if EY does sometimes talk about being a PC instead of an NPC.