Related: what different conceptions of ‘simulation’ are we using that make Eliezer’s statement coherent to him, but incoherent to me? Possible conceptions in order of increasing ‘reality’:
(i) the simulation just stimulates your ‘have been interacting with people’ neurons, so that you have a sense of this need being fulfilled with no memories of how it was fulfilled.
(ii) the simulation simulates interaction with people, so that you feel as though you’ve interacted with people and have full memories and most outcomes (e.g., increased knowledge and empathy, etc.) of having done so
(iii) the simulation simulates real people—so that you really have interacted with “real people”, just you’ve done so inside the simulation
(iv) reality is a simulation—depending on your concept of simulation, the deterministic evolution/actualization of reality in space-time is one
ii is a problem, iii fits my values but may violate other sentients’ rights, and as for iv, I see no difference between the concepts of “computer program” and “universe” except that a computer program has an output.
So when you write that you need interaction with real people, you were thinking of (i) or (ii)? I think (ii) or (iii), but only not (ii) if there is any objective coherent difference.
Related: what different conceptions of ‘simulation’ are we using that make Eliezer’s statement coherent to him, but incoherent to me? Possible conceptions in order of increasing ‘reality’:
(i) the simulation just stimulates your ‘have been interacting with people’ neurons, so that you have a sense of this need being fulfilled with no memories of how it was fulfilled.
(ii) the simulation simulates interaction with people, so that you feel as though you’ve interacted with people and have full memories and most outcomes (e.g., increased knowledge and empathy, etc.) of having done so
(iii) the simulation simulates real people—so that you really have interacted with “real people”, just you’ve done so inside the simulation
(iv) reality is a simulation—depending on your concept of simulation, the deterministic evolution/actualization of reality in space-time is one
ii is a problem, iii fits my values but may violate other sentients’ rights, and as for iv, I see no difference between the concepts of “computer program” and “universe” except that a computer program has an output.
So when you write that you need interaction with real people, you were thinking of (i) or (ii)? I think (ii) or (iii), but only not (ii) if there is any objective coherent difference.