I think that people are born selfish. This is based on the fact that, if I grew up in an environment that didn’t compel me to be either selfish or selfless, I’d probably be selfish. Babies are selfish. I value those creatures that I was convinced to value. Slave owners taught their children that it’s okay to beat slaves, and the children were happy to comply. Now most people disregard the pain of food animals because they can get away with it.
Of course, some of my actions are genuinely altruistic. I chose to give up meat, although this brings me little tangible benefit. (It does get me out of some accusations of hypocricy.) One reason why I let myself become like this is that in human society, being nice is a habit that keeps my ass from getting kicked. And it needs to be a habit, because I’m not smart enough to delude everybody that I care, when I actually see them all as obstacles.
If I somehow become so powerful that I no longer depend on anyone, and noting they do can harm me, I will probably quickly become corrupted by my power.
But I agree that now, I can’t be considered purely selfish.
“So, it seems that Eliezer’s working definition of an intelligent person is “someone who agrees with me”.”
My definition of an intelligent person is slowly becoming “someone who agrees with Eliezer”, so that’s all right. Plus, the guy showed ability to revise a strongly held belief.
I think that people are born selfish. This is based on the fact that, if I grew up in an environment that didn’t compel me to be either selfish or selfless, I’d probably be selfish. Babies are selfish. I value those creatures that I was convinced to value. Slave owners taught their children that it’s okay to beat slaves, and the children were happy to comply. Now most people disregard the pain of food animals because they can get away with it.
Of course, some of my actions are genuinely altruistic. I chose to give up meat, although this brings me little tangible benefit. (It does get me out of some accusations of hypocricy.) One reason why I let myself become like this is that in human society, being nice is a habit that keeps my ass from getting kicked. And it needs to be a habit, because I’m not smart enough to delude everybody that I care, when I actually see them all as obstacles.
If I somehow become so powerful that I no longer depend on anyone, and noting they do can harm me, I will probably quickly become corrupted by my power.
But I agree that now, I can’t be considered purely selfish.
“So, it seems that Eliezer’s working definition of an intelligent person is “someone who agrees with me”.”
My definition of an intelligent person is slowly becoming “someone who agrees with Eliezer”, so that’s all right. Plus, the guy showed ability to revise a strongly held belief.