POV: I’m in an ancestral environment, and I (somehow) only care about the rewarding feeling of eating bread. I only care about the nice feeling which comes from having sex, or watching the birth of my son, or being gaining power in the tribe. I don’t care about the real-world status of my actual son, although I might have strictly instrumental heuristics about e.g. how to keep him safe and well-fed in certain situations, as cognitive shortcuts for getting reward (but not as terminal values).
Would such a person sacrifice themselves for their children (in situations where doing so would be a fitness advantage)?
I think this highlights a good counterpoint. I think this alternate theory predicts “probably not”, although I can contrive hypotheses for why people would sacrifice themselves (because they have learned that high-status → reward; and it’s high-status to sacrifice yourself for your kid). Or because keeping your kid safe → high reward as another learned drive.
Overall this feels like contortion but I think it’s possible. Maybe overall this is a… 1-bit update against the “not selection for caring about reality” point?
Would such a person sacrifice themselves for their children (in situations where doing so would be a fitness advantage)?
I think this highlights a good counterpoint. I think this alternate theory predicts “probably not”, although I can contrive hypotheses for why people would sacrifice themselves (because they have learned that high-status → reward; and it’s high-status to sacrifice yourself for your kid). Or because keeping your kid safe → high reward as another learned drive.
Overall this feels like contortion but I think it’s possible. Maybe overall this is a… 1-bit update against the “not selection for caring about reality” point?