This seems like an interesting idea. I have this vague sense that if I want to go into alignment I should know a lot of maths, but when I ask myself why, the only answers I can come up with are:
Because people I respect (Eliezer, Nate, John) seem to think so (BAD REASON)
Because I might run into a problem and need more maths to solve it (Not great reason since I could learn the maths I need then)
Because I might run into a problem and not have the mathematical concepts needed to even recognise it as solvable or to reduce it to a Reason 2 level problem (Good reason)
I wonder if reading a book or two like that would provide a good amount of benefit towards Reason 3 without requiring years of study.
#3 is good. another good reason is so you have enough mathematical maturity to understand fancy theoretical results.
I’m probably overestimating the importance of #4, really I just like having the ability to pick up a random undergrad/early-grad math book and understand what’s going on, and I’d like to extend that further up the tree :)
This seems like an interesting idea. I have this vague sense that if I want to go into alignment I should know a lot of maths, but when I ask myself why, the only answers I can come up with are:
Because people I respect (Eliezer, Nate, John) seem to think so (BAD REASON)
Because I might run into a problem and need more maths to solve it (Not great reason since I could learn the maths I need then)
Because I might run into a problem and not have the mathematical concepts needed to even recognise it as solvable or to reduce it to a Reason 2 level problem (Good reason)
I wonder if reading a book or two like that would provide a good amount of benefit towards Reason 3 without requiring years of study.
#3 is good. another good reason is so you have enough mathematical maturity to understand fancy theoretical results.
I’m probably overestimating the importance of #4, really I just like having the ability to pick up a random undergrad/early-grad math book and understand what’s going on, and I’d like to extend that further up the tree :)
3 is my main reason for wanting to learn more pure math, but I use 1 and 2 to help motivate me