Using the word koan is inaccurate. I think Yudkowsky is either trying to do it to associate feelings of mystic power with rationality, or to attack feelings of mystic power by setting up expectations and then destroying those; I don’t have any idea which. But it somewhat annoys me. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s annoying.
The first of those two hypotheses but yes, it’s annoying and jarring. I had kind of hoped Eliezer got the mystic zen martial arts nonsense out of his system years ago and could start talking plain sense now.
I voted “Don’t care”, whereas in reality it’s more that I like the things like the cult koans and Tsuyoku Naritai, but find the current use of “Koan” so-so (I like the questions, the term “koan” is a bit jarring, but I can get used to it)
I find it super obnoxious, in exactly the same way I felt when my martial arts teachers talked about using my dantian to focus my chi instead of breathing with my diaphragm or whatever is actually useful.
The problem with regular theory exposition is that we don’t have a good theoretical framework for discussing how to put theory to practice, so the difficult to express parts about applying the theory just get omitted. I like the martial arts nonsense so far as it connotes an intention that you are supposed to actually put the subject matter to use and win with it, in addition to just appreciating the theory. Since we don’t know how to express general instructions for putting theory to practice very well in plain speech, some evocative mysticism may be the best we can do.
I don’t always dislike it. “I must become stronger” benefited from the approach. I dislike this specific instance because it’s jarring and doesn’t fit with the context and it’s a misuse of the word “koan”.
The first of those two hypotheses but yes, it’s annoying and jarring. I had kind of hoped Eliezer got the mystic zen martial arts nonsense out of his system years ago and could start talking plain sense now.
I like the mystic Zen martial arts nonsense. Looks like it’s the time for a poll.
Eliezer’s mystic Zen martial arts nonsense is...
[pollid:182]
I voted “Don’t care”, whereas in reality it’s more that I like the things like the cult koans and Tsuyoku Naritai, but find the current use of “Koan” so-so (I like the questions, the term “koan” is a bit jarring, but I can get used to it)
I find it super obnoxious, in exactly the same way I felt when my martial arts teachers talked about using my dantian to focus my chi instead of breathing with my diaphragm or whatever is actually useful.
In general the “mystic Zen martial arts nonsense” is a nice antidote to the Straw Vulcan stereotype.
That’s no excuse for misusing a word in this specific instance, though.
The problem with regular theory exposition is that we don’t have a good theoretical framework for discussing how to put theory to practice, so the difficult to express parts about applying the theory just get omitted. I like the martial arts nonsense so far as it connotes an intention that you are supposed to actually put the subject matter to use and win with it, in addition to just appreciating the theory. Since we don’t know how to express general instructions for putting theory to practice very well in plain speech, some evocative mysticism may be the best we can do.
I don’t always dislike it. “I must become stronger” benefited from the approach. I dislike this specific instance because it’s jarring and doesn’t fit with the context and it’s a misuse of the word “koan”.