My current perception is that there are not many independent minds to be found here. I perceive there to be a strong tendency to jump if Yudkowsky tells people to jump. I’m virtually the only true critic of the SIAI, which is really sad and frightening.
Maybe it’s because this “being an independant mind” thing isn’t as great as you think it is? Like most people here, I’ve been raised hearing about the merits of challenging authority, thinking for yourself, questioning everything, not following the herd, etc. But there’s a dark side to that, and it’s thinking that when you disagree with the experts, you’re right and the experts are wrong.
I now think that a lot of those “think for yourself” and “listen to your heart” things are borderline dark-side epistemology, and that by default, the experts are right and I should just shut up until I have some very good reasons to disagree. Any darn fool can decide the experts are victim of groupthink, or don’t dare think outside the box, or just want to preserve the status quo. I think changing one’s mind when faced with disagreeing expert opinion is a better sign off rationality than “thinking for oneself”. I think that many rationalist’s self-image as iconoclasts is harmful.
I’m willing to call myself an “Eliezer Yudkosky fanboy” in a bullet-biting kind of way. I don’t see the lack of systematic disagreement as a bad thing, and I don’t care about looking like a cult member.
...by default, the experts are right and I should just shut up until I have some very good reasons to disagree.
Yet you decided to trust Yudkowsky, not the experts.
Any darn fool can decide the experts are victim of groupthink, or don’t dare think outside the box, or just want to preserve the status quo.
I don’t, that is why I am asking experts, many seem not to share Yudkowsky’s worries.
I’m willing to call myself an “Eliezer Yudkosky fanboy” in a bullet-biting kind of way. I don’t see the lack of systematic disagreement as a bad thing, and I don’t care about looking like a cult member.
I actually got a link to his homepage and the SIAI on my homepage for a few years under ‘favorites sites’.
Maybe it’s because this “being an independant mind” thing isn’t as great as you think it is? Like most people here, I’ve been raised hearing about the merits of challenging authority, thinking for yourself, questioning everything, not following the herd, etc. But there’s a dark side to that, and it’s thinking that when you disagree with the experts, you’re right and the experts are wrong.
I now think that a lot of those “think for yourself” and “listen to your heart” things are borderline dark-side epistemology, and that by default, the experts are right and I should just shut up until I have some very good reasons to disagree. Any darn fool can decide the experts are victim of groupthink, or don’t dare think outside the box, or just want to preserve the status quo. I think changing one’s mind when faced with disagreeing expert opinion is a better sign off rationality than “thinking for oneself”. I think that many rationalist’s self-image as iconoclasts is harmful.
I’m willing to call myself an “Eliezer Yudkosky fanboy” in a bullet-biting kind of way. I don’t see the lack of systematic disagreement as a bad thing, and I don’t care about looking like a cult member.
Yet you decided to trust Yudkowsky, not the experts.
I don’t, that is why I am asking experts, many seem not to share Yudkowsky’s worries.
I actually got a link to his homepage and the SIAI on my homepage for a few years under ‘favorites sites’.