This post was extremely important but not well executed. The resulting discussion essentially failed to make progress, but it was attempting perhaps the most important question currently on the table: why do some alignment thinkers believe alignment is very difficult, while others think it’s fairly easy?
The Doomimir and Simplicia dialogues dialogues did a much better job of refining the key questions, but they may have been inspired by the chaotic discussion this post inspired.
I am torn in nominating this post, because Barnett’s rather confrontational and assertive tone probably caused the lack of progress in the discussion. But it did cause discussion.
Remaining both divided and unclear on why we’re divided is not an acceptable state of affairs. In that state, the public positions of alignment thinkers will come all too close to canceling each other out.
I would really like to see more careful inquiries into the logic of alignment difficulty—and to see the best thinkers from all places on the spectrum engage.
This post was extremely important but not well executed. The resulting discussion essentially failed to make progress, but it was attempting perhaps the most important question currently on the table: why do some alignment thinkers believe alignment is very difficult, while others think it’s fairly easy?
The Doomimir and Simplicia dialogues dialogues did a much better job of refining the key questions, but they may have been inspired by the chaotic discussion this post inspired.
I am torn in nominating this post, because Barnett’s rather confrontational and assertive tone probably caused the lack of progress in the discussion. But it did cause discussion.
Remaining both divided and unclear on why we’re divided is not an acceptable state of affairs. In that state, the public positions of alignment thinkers will come all too close to canceling each other out.
I would really like to see more careful inquiries into the logic of alignment difficulty—and to see the best thinkers from all places on the spectrum engage.