One possible value is something like intrinsically valuing Truth or Better Reasoning. Perhaps also something like Productivity/âMaximisation. The rationality community is perhaps a good example of promoting such values (explicitly here).
It feels somewhat double-edged to promote instrumental values. This can cause all types of troubles if itâs misinterpreted or too successful.
Iâm basically an outsider to EA, but âfrom afarâ, I would guess that some of the values of EA are 1) against politicization, 2) for working and building rather than fighting and exposing (âexposingâ being âsaying the unhealthy truth for truthâs sakeâ, I guess), 3) for knowing and self-improvement (your point), 4) concern for effectiveness (Gordonâs point). And of course, the value of altruism.
These seem like they are relatively safe to promote (unless Iâm missing something.)
Altruism is composed of 1) other-orientation /â a relative lack of self-focus (curiosity is an intellectual version of this), 2) something like optimism, 3) openness to evidence (you could define âhopeâ as a certain combination of 2 and 3), 4) personal connection with reality (maybe a sense of moral obligation, a connection with other beingâs subjective states, or a taste for a better world), 5) inclination to work, 6...) probably others. So if you value altruism, you have to value whatever subvalues it has.
These also seem fairly safe to promote.
Altruism is supported by 1) âsome kind of ambition is goodâ, 2) âhumility is good but trying to maximize humility is badâ (being so humble you donât have any confidence in your knowledge prevents action), 3) âcourage is good but not foolhardinessâ, 4) âwill is good, if it stays in touch with realityâ, 5) âbeing ârealâ is goodâ (following through on promises, really having intentions), 6) âpersonal sufficiency is goodâ (you have enough or are enough to dare reach into someone elseâs reality), 7...) probably others.
These are riskier. I think one thing to remember is that ideas are things in peopleâs minds, that culture is really embodied in people, not in words. A lot of culture is in interpersonal contact, which forms the context for ideas. So ideally, if you promote values, you shouldnât just say things, but should instruct people (or be in relationship with people) such that they really understand what youâre saying. (Advice Iâve seen on this forum.) Genes become phenotype through epigenetics, and concepts become emotions, attitudes, and behaviors through the âepiconceptualâ. The epiconceptual could be the cultural background that informs how people hear a message (like âyes, this is the moral truth, but we donât actually expect people to live up to the moral truthâ), or it could be the subcultural background from a relationship or community that makes it make sense. The practices and expectations of culture /â subculture. So values are a thing which are not promoted just by communicators, but also by community-builders, and good communities help make risky but productive words safe to spread.
This is an interesting question.
One possible value is something like intrinsically valuing Truth or Better Reasoning. Perhaps also something like Productivity/âMaximisation. The rationality community is perhaps a good example of promoting such values (explicitly here).
It feels somewhat double-edged to promote instrumental values. This can cause all types of troubles if itâs misinterpreted or too successful.
What do you think are the important values?
Iâm basically an outsider to EA, but âfrom afarâ, I would guess that some of the values of EA are 1) against politicization, 2) for working and building rather than fighting and exposing (âexposingâ being âsaying the unhealthy truth for truthâs sakeâ, I guess), 3) for knowing and self-improvement (your point), 4) concern for effectiveness (Gordonâs point). And of course, the value of altruism.
These seem like they are relatively safe to promote (unless Iâm missing something.)
Altruism is composed of 1) other-orientation /â a relative lack of self-focus (curiosity is an intellectual version of this), 2) something like optimism, 3) openness to evidence (you could define âhopeâ as a certain combination of 2 and 3), 4) personal connection with reality (maybe a sense of moral obligation, a connection with other beingâs subjective states, or a taste for a better world), 5) inclination to work, 6...) probably others. So if you value altruism, you have to value whatever subvalues it has.
These also seem fairly safe to promote.
Altruism is supported by 1) âsome kind of ambition is goodâ, 2) âhumility is good but trying to maximize humility is badâ (being so humble you donât have any confidence in your knowledge prevents action), 3) âcourage is good but not foolhardinessâ, 4) âwill is good, if it stays in touch with realityâ, 5) âbeing ârealâ is goodâ (following through on promises, really having intentions), 6) âpersonal sufficiency is goodâ (you have enough or are enough to dare reach into someone elseâs reality), 7...) probably others.
These are riskier. I think one thing to remember is that ideas are things in peopleâs minds, that culture is really embodied in people, not in words. A lot of culture is in interpersonal contact, which forms the context for ideas. So ideally, if you promote values, you shouldnât just say things, but should instruct people (or be in relationship with people) such that they really understand what youâre saying. (Advice Iâve seen on this forum.) Genes become phenotype through epigenetics, and concepts become emotions, attitudes, and behaviors through the âepiconceptualâ. The epiconceptual could be the cultural background that informs how people hear a message (like âyes, this is the moral truth, but we donât actually expect people to live up to the moral truthâ), or it could be the subcultural background from a relationship or community that makes it make sense. The practices and expectations of culture /â subculture. So values are a thing which are not promoted just by communicators, but also by community-builders, and good communities help make risky but productive words safe to spread.