I was talking about wrapping a model of a human—thus converting a non-utility-based model into a utility-based one. That operation is, of course, not circular. If you think the argument is circular, you haven’t grasped the intended purpose of it.
It doesn’t give you a utility-based model. A model is a structure whose parts correspond to parts of the thing modelled, and which interact in the same way as in the thing modelled. This post-hoc utility function does not correspond to anything.
What next? Label with 1 everything that happens and 0 everything that doesn’t and call that a utliity-based model of the universe?
Here, I made it pretty clear from the beginning that I was starting with an existing model—and then modifying it. A model with a few bits strapped onto it is still a model.
Well, I would say “utilitarian”, but that word seems to be taken. I mean that the model calculates utilities associated with its possible actions—and then picks the action with the highest utility.
But that is exactly what this wrapping in a post-hoc utility function doesn’t do. The model first picks an action in whatever way it does, then labels that with utility 1.
I was talking about wrapping a model of a human—thus converting a non-utility-based model into a utility-based one. That operation is, of course, not circular. If you think the argument is circular, you haven’t grasped the intended purpose of it.
It doesn’t give you a utility-based model. A model is a structure whose parts correspond to parts of the thing modelled, and which interact in the same way as in the thing modelled. This post-hoc utility function does not correspond to anything.
What next? Label with 1 everything that happens and 0 everything that doesn’t and call that a utliity-based model of the universe?
Here, I made it pretty clear from the beginning that I was starting with an existing model—and then modifying it. A model with a few bits strapped onto it is still a model.
If I stick a hamburger on my car, the car is still a car—but the hamburger plays no part in what makes it a car.
AFAICS, I never made the corresponding claim—that the utility function was part of what made the model a model.
How else can I understand your words “utility-based models”? This is no more a utility-based model than a hamburger on a car is a hamburger-based car.
Well, I would say “utilitarian”, but that word seems to be taken. I mean that the model calculates utilities associated with its possible actions—and then picks the action with the highest utility.
But that is exactly what this wrapping in a post-hoc utility function doesn’t do. The model first picks an action in whatever way it does, then labels that with utility 1.