Comment author: Vladimir_Nesov 28 December 2011 07:40:43AM *  20 points [-]

This is an incorrect description of 5-and-10. The description given is of a different problem (one of whose aspects is addressed in the recent cousin_it's writeup, the problem is resolved in that setting by Lemma 2).

5-and-10 problem is concerned with the following (incorrect) line of reasoning by a hypothetical agent:

"I have to decide between $5 and $10. Suppose I decide to choose $5. I know that I'm a money-optimizer, so if I do this, $5 must be more money than $10, so this alternative is better. Therefore, I should choose $5."

Comment author: Malcolm_Edwards 04 January 2012 06:17:50AM *  0 points [-]

It seems to me that any agent unable to solve this problem would be considerably less intelligent than a human.

Comment author: Malcolm_Edwards 05 November 2011 12:45:30PM 5 points [-]

Took the survey, even though I've mostly only lurked.

I don't know what an "ontologically basic mental entity" is. Also, I only left the Singularity question blank because I think it's overall probability of happening is less that 50%.

In response to The RPG Thread
Comment author: Rain 27 June 2011 05:50:17PM *  12 points [-]

Eclipse Phase is a sci-fi RPG dealing with AI, nanotech, biotech, mind copying, and other far-future issues, all played in a straight manner. By default, characters are part of an organization created to fight against existential risks, after they've become all too real.

In response to comment by Rain on The RPG Thread
Comment author: Malcolm_Edwards 02 July 2011 02:37:21AM 3 points [-]

I have run a game of Eclipse Phase at an RPG convention in Sydney. I found it to be a very cool game, the setting in particular is very interesting and varied however the rules are a little complex for people who want to just try it.

There are a lot of bits which don't quite fit into hard sci-fi - aliens, psychics, nanotech that works like magic. However, it's pretty easy to leave these out, except it's difficult to know how realistic nanotech would work. I doubt we'll ever use it to create mundane things due to energy constraints, but I guess in the context of the game it works.

Where the game really shines is in dealing with mind uploading, "re-sleeving", virtual worlds and psychic surgery - you can copy minds and re-merge them, even edit them to some degree. It gives a lot of scope for games that work with meta-levels of reality and manipulation of minds. I would like to explore possible transhumanism using it if I ever get the time to.