I don’t think self-interest is relevant here if you believe that it is possible for an agent to have an altruistic goal.
Also, as with all words, “agentic” will have different meanings in different contexts, and my comment was based on its use when referring to people’s behaviour/psychology which is not an exact science, therefore words are not being used in very precise scientific ways :)
It was the OP that injected self-interest into the concept of agency, hence my original question. And I totally agree about the meaning of words varying. None of this is a science at all, in my opinion, just non-critical philosophy and economics and where the two meet and intertwine. I’m just trying to understand how EA and EAs define these things, that’s all.
Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
I don’t think self-interest is relevant here if you believe that it is possible for an agent to have an altruistic goal.
Also, as with all words, “agentic” will have different meanings in different contexts, and my comment was based on its use when referring to people’s behaviour/psychology which is not an exact science, therefore words are not being used in very precise scientific ways :)
It was the OP that injected self-interest into the concept of agency, hence my original question. And I totally agree about the meaning of words varying. None of this is a science at all, in my opinion, just non-critical philosophy and economics and where the two meet and intertwine. I’m just trying to understand how EA and EAs define these things, that’s all.
Thanks so much for your input. I really appreciate it.
Yup, another commenter is correct in that I am assuming that the goals are altruistic.